The purpose of this study was to observe, analyze and compare the biomechanical differences that result from barefoot walking and walking in swimming flippers on dry land. We were curious about this subject because of our own failed encounters with walking in flippers. Our data indicated a greater range of motion in the lower body segment for flipper walking than for barefoot walking. Specifically measured using joint angle analysis was the hip joint and knee joint with a finding of greater flexion in both for flipper walking.
During flipper walking, the body compensated for the flipper obstacle by producing a greater range of motion at the hip and knee and longer step length. Although there was no research available on gait pattern during flipper walking to use for comparison, we found that the gait pattern during flipper walking was most similar to walking over an obstacle. Patla and Prentice (1995) suggests that the lower extremity clears an obstacle via flexion at the hip, knee and ankle joints as a function of obstacle height. While our data exhibited a marked increase in knee flexion during the swing phase during flipper walking, it showed an increase in hip flexion. To be most successful when walking in flippers, a novice flipper walker should be instructed to lift their legs and bend their knees more.
Our research was limited by the fact that we had only one subject and one trial. One college-aged female is certainly not representative of the entire population of people who walk barefoot, nor those who seek enjoyment by walking in swimming flippers. In our experiment we used swimming flippers on dry land whereas most users of swimming flippers don the flippers while they are in the water, therefore it was difficult to find substantial research on this subject. A limiting factor was the type of surface used for our experiment; we performed our experiment on a concrete floor whereas most users of swimming flippers walk in water or on sand. In order to generalize our findings to a larger population, we would need more subjects performing a greater number of trials on various surfaces.
Chen, H., Ashton-Miller, J.A., Alexander, N.B., and Schultz, A.B. (1991) Stepping over obstacles: Gait patterns of healthy young and old adults. Journal of Gerontology 46: 196-203.
Patla, A. and Prentice, S. (1995) The role of active forces and intersegmental dynamics in the control of limb trajectory over obstacles during locomotion in humans. Experimental Brain Research 106: 499-504.