Constraints on Stance-Phase Force Production during Overground Walking in Persons with Chronic Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries often have difficulty walking, leading to slower speeds and a greater need for assistive devices. This study looked at the forces exerted during walking in people with iSCI and compared them to those of able-bodied individuals. The research focused on ground reaction forces (GRFs), which are the forces between the feet and the ground during walking. These forces are important for supporting body weight and enabling movement. The study found that people with iSCI generate less force when walking compared to able-bodied individuals, especially when using assistive devices. This suggests that weakness and reliance on these devices may limit the forces needed for effective walking.

• 1
  Persons with iSCI exhibit reduced fore-aft GRFs compared to AB controls, with reductions greatest in persons dependent on an AD.
• 2
  When controlling for cadence and AD, propulsive forces were still lower in persons with iSCI, indicating that the injury itself contributes to reduced force generation.
• 3
  Persons with iSCI demonstrated altered GRF modifications to increased cadence, suggesting a limited ability to adjust force output as walking speed changes.