The purpose of this study is to determine how restricting inversion-eversion and pronation-supination motions of the ankle joint complex influences the stability of human gait. The experiment was carried out on a slippery level ground walkway. Spatiotemporal gait parameter, kinematics and kinetics data as well as utilized coefficient of friction (UCOF) were compared between two conditions, i.e. with restriction of the ankle joint complex inversion-eversion and pronation-supination motions (FIXED) and without restriction (FREE). The results showed that FIXED could lead to a significant increase in velocity and stride length and an obvious decrease in double support time. Furthermore, FIXED might affect the motion angle range of knee joint and ankle joint in the sagittal plane. In FIXED condition, UCOF was significantly increased, which could lead to an increase of slip probability and a decrease of gait stability. Hence, in the design of a walker, bipedal robot or prosthetic, the structure design which is used to achieve the ankle joint complex inversion-eversion and pronation-supination motions should be implemented.
