Preserved gait kinematics during controlled body unloading

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2017 · DOI: 10.1186/s12984-017-0239-9 · Published: March 30, 2017

Simple Explanation

This study explores how healthy individuals adapt their walking when using a body weight support system (BWS) that reduces the amount of weight they bear. The researchers looked at various levels of body weight support to see how it affected the way people walk, measuring things like joint angles, muscle activity, and timing of steps. The findings help understand how BWS systems might be used to help patients with neurological conditions improve their walking ability.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

19 healthy volunteers (9 females and 10 males)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Healthy individuals maintain consistent walking kinematics even when unloaded by half their body weight, suggesting the support system permits physiological gait.
2
Muscle activity patterns adapt to maintain walking speed and kinematics during unloading, with increased biceps femoris activity during leg retraction.
3
Time-distance parameters such as step length and cadence are more sensitive to changes in body unloading than spatial variables like joint angles.

Research Summary

The study investigates the impact of body weight support (BWS) on gait patterns in healthy individuals during overground walking using a cable-based robotic system (FLOAT). Results indicate that participants could maintain relatively normal gait kinematics even with significant body weight unloading, although compensatory muscle activation strategies were adopted. The findings suggest that the BWS system does not significantly distort gait and could be beneficial for balance training and improving posture in neurological patients.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Body weight support systems can be used to reverse maladaptive walking patterns in patients with neurological conditions by increasing time spent in unstable gait phases.

Posture Improvement

Alleviating body load can lead to a more upright body position, which can be beneficial for spinal cord injured subjects with a crouched posture.

Customized Training Programs

Understanding gait alterations under BWS helps tailor suitable training programs for individual patients based on their specific condition.

Study Limitations

1
The study used a relatively slow walking speed (0.56 m/s) for unimpaired individuals, which may limit the generalizability of the results.
2
The study design did not include individuals with neurological conditions.
3
Not specified

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