Anodal transcutaneous DC stimulation enhances learning of dynamic balance control during walking in humans with spinal cord injury.

Deficits in locomotor function, including impairments in walking speed and balance, are major problems for many individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). However, it remains unclear which type of training paradigms are more effective in improving balance, particularly dynamic balance, in individuals with iSCI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether anodal transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) can facilitate learning of balance control during walking in individuals with iSCI.

Enhanced error facilitates motor learning in weight shift and increases use of the paretic leg during walking at chronic stage after stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the application of lateral pelvis pulling force toward the non-paretic side during the stance phase of the paretic leg would enhance forced use of the paretic leg and increase weight shift toward the paretic side in stroke survivors. Eleven chronic stroke survivors participated in two experimental sessions, which consisted of (1) treadmill walking with the application of "pelvis resistance" or "pelvis assistance" and (2) overground walking. During the treadmill walking, the laterally pulling force was applied during the stance phase of the paretic leg toward the non-paretic side for the "pelvis resistance" condition or toward the paretic side for the "pelvis assistance" condition during the stance phase of the paretic leg.

Increased motor variability facilitates motor learning in weight shift toward the paretic side during walking in individuals post-stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether applying "varied" versus constant pelvis assistance force mediolaterally toward the paretic side of stroke survivors during walking would result in short-term improvement in weight shift toward the paretic side. Twelve individuals post-stroke (60.4 ± 6.

Gradual adaptation to pelvis perturbation during walking reinforces motor learning of weight shift toward the paretic side in individuals post-stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the gradual versus abrupt adaptation to lateral pelvis assistance force improves weight shift toward the paretic side and enhance forced use of the paretic leg during walking. Sixteen individuals who had sustained a hemispheric stroke participated in two experimental sessions, which consisted of (1) treadmill walking with the application of lateral pelvis assistance force (gradual vs. abrupt condition) and (2) overground walking.

Targeted Pelvic Constraint Force Induces Enhanced Use of the Paretic Leg During Walking in Persons Post-Stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether activation of muscles in the paretic leg, particularly contributing to propulsion, and gait symmetry can be improved by applying a targeted resistance force to the pelvis in the backward direction during stance phase while walking in individuals post-stroke. Thirteen individuals post-stroke participated in two experimental sessions, which consisted of treadmill walking, with either targeted or constant resistances, together with overground walking. For the targeted condition, a resistance force was applied to the pelvis during the stance phase of the paretic leg.

Varied movement errors drive learning of dynamic balance control during walking in people with incomplete spinal cord injury: a pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the application of a varied pelvis perturbation force would improve dynamic balance control and gait stability of people with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Fourteen participants with iSCI completed the test in two conditions, i.e.

Use of Pelvic Corrective Force With Visual Feedback Improves Paretic Leg Muscle Activities and Gait Performance After Stroke.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of combined pelvic corrective force and visual feedback during treadmill walking on paretic leg muscle activity and gait characteristics in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis. Fifteen chronic stroke participants completed visual feedback only and combined pelvic corrective force and visual feedback conditions during treadmill walking. Each condition included: 1-minute baseline, 7-minute training with visual feedback only or additional pelvic corrective force, 1-minute post training, 1-minute standing break, and another 5-minute training.

Forced use of paretic leg induced by constraining the non-paretic leg leads to motor learning in individuals post-stroke.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether applying repetitive constraint forces to the non-paretic leg during walking would induce motor learning of enhanced use of the paretic leg in individuals post-stroke. Sixteen individuals post chronic (> 6 months) stroke were recruited in this study. Each subject was tested in two conditions, i.

Error variability affects the after effects following motor learning of lateral balance control during walking in people with spinal cord injury.

People with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) usually show impairments in lateral balance control during walking. Effective interventions for improving balance control are still lacking, probably due to limited understanding of motor learning mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine how error size and error variability impact the motor learning of lateral balance control during walking in people with iSCI.

Motor Adaptation to Weight Shifting Assistance Transfers to Overground Walking in People with Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Locomotor training has been used to improve walking function in people with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), but functional gains are relatively small for some patients, which may be due to the lack of weight shifting training.

Objective: To determine whether applying a pelvis assistance force in the coronal plane during walking would improve weight shifting and stepping in people with iSCI.

Design: Repeated measures study.

Combined Visual Feedback with Pelvic Assistance Force Improves Step Length during treadmill walking in Individuals with Post-Stroke Hemiparesis.

Altered spatiotemporal gait characteristics are common impairments after stroke. Visual feedback has been used to improve spatiotemporal gait characteristics. In addition, pelvic assistance force applied in the mediolateral direction to the paretic side can improve walking pattern.

Forced Use of the Paretic Leg Induced by a Constraint Force Applied to the Nonparetic Leg in Individuals Poststroke During Walking.

Background: Individuals with stroke usually show reduced muscle activities of the paretic leg and asymmetrical gait pattern during walking.

Objective: To determine whether applying a resistance force to the nonparetic leg would enhance the muscle activities of the paretic leg and improve the symmetry of spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with poststroke hemiparesis.

Methods: Fifteen individuals with chronic poststroke hemiparesis participated in this study.

Applying a pelvic corrective force induces forced use of the paretic leg and improves paretic leg EMG activities of individuals post-stroke during treadmill walking.

Objective: To determine whether applying a mediolateral corrective force to the pelvis during treadmill walking would enhance muscle activity of the paretic leg and improve gait symmetry in individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis.

Methods: Fifteen subjects with post-stroke hemiparesis participated in this study. A customized cable-driven robotic system based over a treadmill generated a mediolateral corrective force to the pelvis toward the paretic side during early stance phase.

Motor adaptation to lateral pelvis assistance force during treadmill walking in individuals post-stroke.

The goal of this study was to determine how individuals post-stroke response to the lateral assistance force applied to the pelvis during treadmill walking. Ten individuals post chronic (> 6 months) stroke were recruited to participate in this study. A controlled assistance force (∼10% of body weight) was applied to the pelvis in the lateral direction toward the paretic side during stance of the paretic leg.