Neuromuscular and Biomechanical Control of Weight Transfer During Gait in Individuals Post-stroke
University of Texas at Austin
Summary
This study aims to determine the immediate and short-term effects of treadmill oscillation walking (TOW) exercise on hip and knee neuromechanics and gait characteristics in individuals post-stroke. It was hypothesized that compared to baseline, individuals poststroke (N=15) will show increased hip abductor and knee extensor muscle activity and torque production, and increased limb loading and walking speeds during TOW and following a 6-week TOW intervention, reflecting that TOW can enhance gait function through improved hip and knee neuromechanical activation.
Description
Fifteen participants with stroke will be enrolled to a longitudinal study that consists of a 6-week (18 sessions) TOW intervention, and gait evaluations at baseline and post-training and 1-month follow up. Kinematic, kinetic, and muscle activation pattern (electromyography, EMG) data will be recorded during pre- and post-training and 1 month follow-up evaluations. Baseline evaluation: 1. The participant will put on tight-fitting shorts and shirt. Hair ties will be donned to maintain clear lines of sight from cameras to markers. 2. Overground gait assessment: Participants will walk at their s…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Hemiparesis as a result of a stroke greater than 6 months previous to the study; 2. A single cortical or subcortical stroke 3. Able to walk 10 meters with or without a walking aid 4. Able to stand unsupported for 5 minutes 5. Sufficient cognitive function to follow instruction and communicate with the investigators. 6. Reduced paretic limb loading more than 6% compared to the non-paretic limb during overground gait assessment Exclusion Criteria: 1. Medical condition precluding participant in regular exercise, such as acute cardiac or respiratory conditions limiting ac…
Interventions
- BehavioralTreadmill Oscillation Walking
Each participant with stroke will partake in 18 training sessions. Training sessions will be for one hour three times a week for 6 weeks. During training, participants will walk at their self-selected walking speed on the treadmill that moves side-to-side for 1 cm in a sinusoidal pattern. The sinusoidal oscillation frequency will match each participant's natural stride frequency calculated from baseline evaluation. Subjects will be instructed to respond naturally and maintain continuous walking. Participants will wear a safety harness with no body weight support. For each training session, six 6-minute bouts of treadmill oscillation trials will be performed (Hsiao et al. 2016) and rest period will be provided between bouts. Because lower extremity muscle activity increases with increasing oscillation frequency, the treadmill oscillation frequency will be increased by 5% each week to continue to drive progressive adaptive changes (25% over 6 weeks) (Pohl et al. 2002).
Location
- Bellmont HallAustin, Texas