Abstract
Walking on a split-belt treadmill (each of the two belts running at a different speed) has been proposed as an experimental paradigm to investigate the flexibility of the neural control of gait and as a form of therapeutic exercise. However, the scarcity of dynamic investigations challenges the validity of the available findings. The aim of the present study was to investigate the dynamic asymmetries of lower limbs of healthy adults during adaptation to gait on a splitbelt treadmill. Ten healthy adults walked on a split-belt treadmill mounted on force sensors, with belts running either at the same speed ('tied' condition) or at different speeds ('split' condition, 0.4 vs. 0.8 or 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s). The sagittal power and work provided by ankle, knee and hip joints, joint rotations, muscle lengthening, and surface electromyography were recorded simultaneously. Various tied/split walking sequences were requested. In the split condition a marked asymmetry between the parameters recorded from each of the two lower limbs, in particular from the ankle joint, was recorded. The work provided by the ankle (the main engine of body propulsion) was 4.8 and 2.2 times higher (in the 0.4 vs. 0.8, and 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s conditions, respectively) compared with the slower side, and 1.2 and 1.1 times higher compared with the same speed in the tied condition. Compared with overground gait in hemiplegia, split gait entails an opposite spatial and dynamic asymmetry. The faster leg mimics the paretic limb temporally, but the unimpaired limb from the spatial and dynamic point of view. These differences challenge the proposed protocols of split gait as forms of therapeutic exercise.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 304-315 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | International Journal of Rehabilitation Research |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- asymmetry
- gait
- joint power
- muscle work
- rehabilitation
- split-belt treadmill
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation
Cite this
Limping on split-belt treadmills implies opposite kinematic and dynamic lower limb asymmetries. / Tesio, Luigi; Malloggi, Chiara; Malfitano, Calogero; Coccetta, Carlo A.; Catino, Luigi; Rota, Viviana.
In: International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, Vol. 41, No. 4, 01.12.2018, p. 304-315.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Limping on split-belt treadmills implies opposite kinematic and dynamic lower limb asymmetries
AU - Tesio, Luigi
AU - Malloggi, Chiara
AU - Malfitano, Calogero
AU - Coccetta, Carlo A.
AU - Catino, Luigi
AU - Rota, Viviana
PY - 2018/12/1
Y1 - 2018/12/1
N2 - Walking on a split-belt treadmill (each of the two belts running at a different speed) has been proposed as an experimental paradigm to investigate the flexibility of the neural control of gait and as a form of therapeutic exercise. However, the scarcity of dynamic investigations challenges the validity of the available findings. The aim of the present study was to investigate the dynamic asymmetries of lower limbs of healthy adults during adaptation to gait on a splitbelt treadmill. Ten healthy adults walked on a split-belt treadmill mounted on force sensors, with belts running either at the same speed ('tied' condition) or at different speeds ('split' condition, 0.4 vs. 0.8 or 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s). The sagittal power and work provided by ankle, knee and hip joints, joint rotations, muscle lengthening, and surface electromyography were recorded simultaneously. Various tied/split walking sequences were requested. In the split condition a marked asymmetry between the parameters recorded from each of the two lower limbs, in particular from the ankle joint, was recorded. The work provided by the ankle (the main engine of body propulsion) was 4.8 and 2.2 times higher (in the 0.4 vs. 0.8, and 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s conditions, respectively) compared with the slower side, and 1.2 and 1.1 times higher compared with the same speed in the tied condition. Compared with overground gait in hemiplegia, split gait entails an opposite spatial and dynamic asymmetry. The faster leg mimics the paretic limb temporally, but the unimpaired limb from the spatial and dynamic point of view. These differences challenge the proposed protocols of split gait as forms of therapeutic exercise.
AB - Walking on a split-belt treadmill (each of the two belts running at a different speed) has been proposed as an experimental paradigm to investigate the flexibility of the neural control of gait and as a form of therapeutic exercise. However, the scarcity of dynamic investigations challenges the validity of the available findings. The aim of the present study was to investigate the dynamic asymmetries of lower limbs of healthy adults during adaptation to gait on a splitbelt treadmill. Ten healthy adults walked on a split-belt treadmill mounted on force sensors, with belts running either at the same speed ('tied' condition) or at different speeds ('split' condition, 0.4 vs. 0.8 or 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s). The sagittal power and work provided by ankle, knee and hip joints, joint rotations, muscle lengthening, and surface electromyography were recorded simultaneously. Various tied/split walking sequences were requested. In the split condition a marked asymmetry between the parameters recorded from each of the two lower limbs, in particular from the ankle joint, was recorded. The work provided by the ankle (the main engine of body propulsion) was 4.8 and 2.2 times higher (in the 0.4 vs. 0.8, and 0.8 vs. 1.2 m/s conditions, respectively) compared with the slower side, and 1.2 and 1.1 times higher compared with the same speed in the tied condition. Compared with overground gait in hemiplegia, split gait entails an opposite spatial and dynamic asymmetry. The faster leg mimics the paretic limb temporally, but the unimpaired limb from the spatial and dynamic point of view. These differences challenge the proposed protocols of split gait as forms of therapeutic exercise.
KW - asymmetry
KW - gait
KW - joint power
KW - muscle work
KW - rehabilitation
KW - split-belt treadmill
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85056259360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85056259360&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MRR.0000000000000320
DO - 10.1097/MRR.0000000000000320
M3 - Article
C2 - 30303831
AN - SCOPUS:85056259360
VL - 41
SP - 304
EP - 315
JO - International Journal of Rehabilitation Research
JF - International Journal of Rehabilitation Research
SN - 0342-5282
IS - 4
ER -