Tommy W Sutor1, David D Fuller2, Emily J Fox3,4. 1. Research Service, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL, USA. 2. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. 3. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. ejfox@phhp.ufl.edu. 4. Brooks Rehabilitation, Jacksonville, FL, USA. ejfox@phhp.ufl.edu.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: Observational, analytical cohort study. OBJECTIVES: After incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), propriospinal pathways may remain intact enabling coupling between respiration and locomotion. This locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC) may enable coordination between these two important behaviors and have implications for rehabilitation after iSCI. However, coordination between these behaviors is not well understood and it is unknown if iSCI disrupts LRC. The objective of this study was to compare LRC in ambulatory adults with iSCI to able-bodied controls. SETTING: Rehabilitation Research Center, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America. METHODS: Adults with iSCI (4 males, 1 female) and able-bodied controls (2 males, 3 females) walked at their fastest comfortable speed for 6 min over ground, and on a treadmill with bodyweight support (10-20%) and as-needed assistance at a standardized fast speed (controls) or their fastest speed (iSCI) for 6 min. LRC was quantified as the percent of breaths that were coupled with steps at a consistent ratio during the last 4 min of each walking condition. RESULTS: Over ground, participants with iSCI demonstrated significantly more LRC than able-bodied controls (72.4 ± 6.4% vs. 59.1% ± 7.5, p = 0.016). During treadmill walking, LRC did not differ between groups (iSCI 67.5 ± 15.8% vs. controls 66.3 ± 4.0%, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with iSCI demonstrated similar or greater LRC compared to able-bodied controls. This suggests that pathways subserving coordination between these behaviors remain intact in this group of individuals who walk independently after iSCI.
STUDY DESIGN: Observational, analytical cohort study. OBJECTIVES: After incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), propriospinal pathways may remain intact enabling coupling between respiration and locomotion. This locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC) may enable coordination between these two important behaviors and have implications for rehabilitation after iSCI. However, coordination between these behaviors is not well understood and it is unknown if iSCI disrupts LRC. The objective of this study was to compare LRC in ambulatory adults with iSCI to able-bodied controls. SETTING: Rehabilitation Research Center, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America. METHODS: Adults with iSCI (4 males, 1 female) and able-bodied controls (2 males, 3 females) walked at their fastest comfortable speed for 6 min over ground, and on a treadmill with bodyweight support (10-20%) and as-needed assistance at a standardized fast speed (controls) or their fastest speed (iSCI) for 6 min. LRC was quantified as the percent of breaths that were coupled with steps at a consistent ratio during the last 4 min of each walking condition. RESULTS: Over ground, participants with iSCI demonstrated significantly more LRC than able-bodied controls (72.4 ± 6.4% vs. 59.1% ± 7.5, p = 0.016). During treadmill walking, LRC did not differ between groups (iSCI 67.5 ± 15.8% vs. controls 66.3 ± 4.0%, p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with iSCI demonstrated similar or greater LRC compared to able-bodied controls. This suggests that pathways subserving coordination between these behaviors remain intact in this group of individuals who walk independently after iSCI.
Authors: Kristiina M Hormigo; Lyandysha V Zholudeva; Victoria M Spruance; Vitaliy Marchenko; Marie-Pascale Cote; Stephane Vinit; Simon Giszter; Tatiana Bezdudnaya; Michael A Lane Journal: Exp Neurol Date: 2016-08-28 Impact factor: 5.330