Final answer:
To reduce medial/lateral displacement during gait, increasing step width is beneficial as it expands the base of support and improves balance, thereby decreasing the body's tendency to sway side-to-side.
Step-by-step explanation:
To minimize medial/lateral displacement during gait, one should increase step width. This is because a wider base provides greater stability, both in the medial/lateral (side-to-side) direction and in the anterior/posterior (front-to-back) direction. When feet are placed farther apart, the base of support is expanded, which in turn reduces the need for the muscles to work excessively to balance the body side-to-side. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is to increase step width.
In terms of physical principles, when step width is increased, it increases the horizontal component of the base of support, which can decrease the tendency for medial/lateral sway. This is especially important for individuals who may have balance impairments or are walking on uneven surfaces.