Muscle activity during gait initiation in normal elderly people.

The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns of phasic muscle during gait initiation in normal elderly people. Bilateral surface EMG recordings were made of tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius and gluteus medius activity throughout gait initiation in 21 subjects. A variable expression of the onset muscle pattern is shown, with a tendency for muscle activity to be more variable in the preparatory phase.

A new classification of higher level gait disorders in patients with cerebral multi-infarct states.

Background: cerebral multi-infarct states may lead to gait disorders in the absence of cognitive impairment. Where these gait disorders occur in the absence of neurological signs they have been termed gait apraxia or more recently higher-level gait disorders. In this paper we hypothesise three main types based on presumptive sites of anatomical damage: (a) Ignition Apraxia, where damage is predominantly in the supplementary motor area and its connections, with good responses to external clues; (b) Equilibrium Apraxia, where damage is predominantly in the pre-motor area in its connections, with poor responses to external cues and (c) Mixed Gait Apraxia.

A hypothesis: self-propulsion in a wheelchair early after stroke might not be harmful.

Background: There is often strong clinical resistance to patients self-propelling a wheelchair post stroke as this is believed to produce immediate increases in abnormal posture and movement. Research to support this viewpoint is limited.

Objective: To begin investigation of the immediate effects of self-propulsion on symmetrical sitting.

Measurement of sitting balance using the Manchester Active Position Seat (MAPS): a feasibility study.

Background: Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy to improve sitting balance has been hampered by the limited number of sensitive objective clinical measures. We developed the Manchester Active Position Seat (MAPS) to provide a portable system to track change in the position of centre of force over time.

Objectives: (1) To investigate whether there is correspondence between the measurement of position change by a forceplate and by MAPS.

Dual-task effects of talking while walking on velocity and balance following a stroke.

Background: Therapists and nurses often use verbal instruction in the rehabilitation of mobility following stroke. This study aimed to determine whether performing a verbal cognitive task while walking adversely affected patients' balance and velocity.

Methods: There were two counterbalanced conditions: walking only and walking and concurrent cognitive activity.