Gabriela Lopes Gama1, Douglas N Savin2, Taylor Keenan3, Sandy McCombe Waller4, Jill Whitall5. 1. Institute of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, 686 Galvão Bueno St., São Paulo, SP, 01506-000, Brazil. 2. University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, 100 Penn St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States. Electronic address: dsavin@som.umaryland.edu. 3. University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, United States. 4. University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, 100 Penn St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States. 5. University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, 100 Penn St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Locomotor adaptation has been suggested as a way to improve gait symmetry in individuals post-stroke. Most perturbation methods utilize costly, specialized equipment. The use of a unilateral leg weight may provide a low cost, clinically translatable alternative. Furthermore, previous studies have suggested that adaptation context may affect movement outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of a unilaterally applied ankle weight to drive locomotor adaptation and determine the effect of context (treadmill versus overground) in young, non-disabled participants. METHODS:Eighteen young non-disabled adults were randomly assigned to receive 10min of walking on a treadmill with a weight (TG), overground with a weight (OG) or as a control on a treadmill/overground without a weight (CG). Outcomes measured before, during and after adaptation were: step length symmetry, single limb support symmetry and gait speed. RESULTS: After adding the weight, single limb support immediately became asymmetrical for all participants without changes in step length symmetry. After walking for 10min, TG step length became asymmetrical. After weight removal, both TG and OG had increased step length asymmetry. TG decreased single limb support asymmetry while OG did not. After walking overground without the weight, walking parameters eventually returned to baseline in both weighted groups. The control group showed no changes. CONCLUSION: A unilaterally applied ankle weight appears able to cause gait adaptation in young, non-disabled participants. However different adaptive changes in the gait pattern are made by the nervous system when the perturbation is applied in different contexts.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Locomotor adaptation has been suggested as a way to improve gait symmetry in individuals post-stroke. Most perturbation methods utilize costly, specialized equipment. The use of a unilateral leg weight may provide a low cost, clinically translatable alternative. Furthermore, previous studies have suggested that adaptation context may affect movement outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of a unilaterally applied ankle weight to drive locomotor adaptation and determine the effect of context (treadmill versus overground) in young, non-disabled participants. METHODS: Eighteen young non-disabled adults were randomly assigned to receive 10min of walking on a treadmill with a weight (TG), overground with a weight (OG) or as a control on a treadmill/overground without a weight (CG). Outcomes measured before, during and after adaptation were: step length symmetry, single limb support symmetry and gait speed. RESULTS: After adding the weight, single limb support immediately became asymmetrical for all participants without changes in step length symmetry. After walking for 10min, TG step length became asymmetrical. After weight removal, both TG and OG had increased step length asymmetry. TG decreased single limb support asymmetry while OG did not. After walking overground without the weight, walking parameters eventually returned to baseline in both weighted groups. The control group showed no changes. CONCLUSION: A unilaterally applied ankle weight appears able to cause gait adaptation in young, non-disabled participants. However different adaptive changes in the gait pattern are made by the nervous system when the perturbation is applied in different contexts.
Authors: A Cecilia Severin; R Pearson Gean; Sally G Barnes; Robin Queen; Robert J Butler; Robert Martin; C Lowry Barnes; Erin M Mannen Journal: Gait Posture Date: 2019-07-26 Impact factor: 2.840