 Depending on speed, stability conditions, and other internal and external factors, the cost of transport for gait can change.These measured metabolic changes are attributed to variations in step length, step width, and other parameters of gait, which have a direct bearing on COT

Metabolic cost is naturally optimized by selection of a nominal gait.While external factors such as instability and perceived dangers may temporarily alter the body's priorities, the primary goal of minimizing a task-dependent energetic expenditure ultimately dominates the determination of preferred walking gait.