Navigating public environments requires adjustments to one s walking patterns to avoid stationary and moving obstacles. It is known that physical inactivity induces alterations in motor capacities, but the impact of inactivity on anticipatory locomotor adjustments (ALA) has not been studied. The purpose of the present study was to compare ALAs and related muscle co-contraction during a pedestrian circumvention task between active (AA) and inactive young adults (IA). Thirteen AA and thirteen IA were placed in a virtual environment simulating a public park. Participants circumvented virtual pedestrians walking towards them. Walking speed, onset of deviation, clearance, foot placement strategies and muscle co-contraction were analysed. IA exhibited slower walking speeds compared to the AA during circumvention condition but not during unobstructed walking condition. The distance at the onset of trajectory deviation was larger for IA. Both groups increased co-contraction for pedestrian circumvention at the ankle and left hip and IA displayed greater ankle co-contraction overall. No significant group differences were observed in minimum clearance. This study suggests that an inactive lifestyle influences ALAs by inducing a cautious behavior during pedestrian circumvention.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This project was funded by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (RGPIN/191782-2023; BJM) and the Reseau provincial de recherche en adaptation-readaptation (REPAR; 0101674). JB received a scholarship from the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en readaptation et integration sociale (Cirris).

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Board of the “Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale” and all participants provided informed written consent.

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Yes

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All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors