If a smartphone user taps the display while walking, the gait pattern adapts to the demands of multitasking. Researchers from the Vienna University of Applied Sciences (FH) Campus have now investigated in a study what exactly happens when there is ‘text walking’: in the magazine ‘Heliyon’ they show that the steps become shorter and wider. Although this “cowboyish” gait reduces the risk of falls, it can put strain on the knees.
“The research results show that the body switches into a kind of safety mode when using the smartphone. While walking speed decreases, there is at the same time an increase in stride width,” said head of the research project Sebastian Durstberger in a press release from the FH Campus Vienna on Monday. This was revealed to the team when they closely observed 27 study participants as they marched on a special treadmill in front of a large screen, which, like typical street sounds, ensured the most realistic conditions possible in the laboratory.
Their movements were recorded using sensors, displayed in 3D models and analyzed. The placement of the feet and the distribution of force were also recorded. While walking, the test subjects had to work on arithmetic assignments sometimes in their heads and other times on their smartphones. “This allowed us to discover whether concentrating on one thing or using a smartphone has an effect on walking,” says Durstberger.
“Text walking” can damage the knees
According to the scientists, the shorter and wider steps lead to a greater load on the outside of the knee joint, which can be associated with a slight X position. In the long term, this ‘text walker’ gait could permanently damage the meniscus and cartilage and reduce their resilience, the researchers said
Source: Krone
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