Gait variability following abrupt removal of external stabilization decreases with practice in incomplete spinal cord injury but increases in non-impaired individuals

摘要: Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) exhibit considerable lateral center of mass (COM) movement variability during gait transitions from a stabilizing to unassisted environment, while non-impaired individuals do not. To understand how iSCI influences adaption, we examined persons and without performing repeated locomotor transitions. We hypothesized that, practice, would prioritize COM control performance the transition as exhibited by reduction in kinematic variability. In, contrast, that effort decreasing muscular activity. Thirteen participants 12 performed five treadmill-walking trials. During some trials, cable-robot applied forces pelvis proportional magnitude opposite direction real-time velocity. Each trial consisted 300 continuous steps or transition. first last no were occurred (Null trials). trials 2–4 (transition trials), 200 force field, then abruptly removed, 100 more performed. analyzed step width variability, hip abductor muscle activity (force removal until returned steady state). Participants displayed large but reduced practice. transition, speed, excursion, all variable than Null (p   0.05). In participants’ was not different (p > 0.05). With increased: excursion Transitions 2 3 versus (p < 0.05). Non-impaired decreased Transition 1 demonstrated rapid motor savings. By third baseline levels. prioritized over performance. practice transitioning, increased effort.