Single-Belt Versus Split-Belt: Intelligent Treadmill Control via Microphase Gait Capture for Poststroke Rehabilitation.

Stroke is the leading long-term disability and causes a significant financial burden associated with rehabilitation. In poststroke rehabilitation, individuals with hemiparesis have a specialized demand for coordinated movement between the paretic and the nonparetic legs. The split-belt treadmill can effectively facilitate the paretic leg by slowing down the belt speed for that leg while the patient is walking on a split-belt treadmill.

The effects of combined transcranial brain stimulation and a 4-week visuomotor stepping training on voluntary step initiation in persons with chronic stroke-a pilot study.

Purpose: Evidence suggests that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can enhance motor performance and learning of hand tasks in persons with chronic stroke (PCS). However, the effects of tDCS on the locomotor tasks in PCS are unclear. This pilot study aimed to: (1) determine aggregate effects of anodal tDCS combined with step training on improvements of the neural and biomechanical attributes of stepping initiation in a small cohort of persons with chronic stroke (PCS) over a 4-week training program; and (2) assess the feasibility and efficacy of this novel approach for improving voluntary stepping initiation in PCS.

Concurrent Validity of Dual-Task Walking Speed With CERAD-NP Assessment Battery in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Objective: To explore the concurrent validity of the dual-task walking speed assessments in older adults using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Neuro-Psychological (CERAD-NP) Assessment Battery.

Design: Cross-sectional design.

Setting: Welfare care centers, Senior complex centers, and Dementia prevention care centers.

Effects of backward-directed resistance on propulsive force generation during split-belt treadmill walking in non-impaired individuals.

Introduction: Backward-directed resistance is the resistance applied in the opposite direction of the individual's walking motion. Progressive application of backward-directed resistance during walking at a target speed engages adaptive motor control to maintain that speed. During split-belt walking, a motor control strategy must be applied that allows the person to keep up with the two belts to maintain their position on the treadmill.

Effects of curved path walking compared to straight path walking in older adults with cognitive deficits: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine whether the existing literature provides evidence that curved path walking time can be a reliable marker of cognitive impairment among older adults using a network meta-analysis (NMA).

Data Sources: PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Korean Studies Information Service System (KSISS) electronic databases were searched in December 2019.

Study Selection: Studies that included the following variables were selected: (P): patients with cognitive impairment, (I): straight path versus curved path walking, (C): control group without cognitive impairment, (O): walking time, and (S): cross-sectional or longitudinal study design.

Differences in physical function across cancer recovery phases: Findings from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey.

Introduction: Recent cancer survivors (<2 years post-diagnosis) report poorer general health and physical weakness compared to long-term cancer survivors (≥2 years post-diagnosis), but differences in functional limitations are unknown. It is unclear which daily tasks are more difficult for recent versus long-term survivors. We aimed to examine differences in functional performances across cancer recovery phases as potential targets for functional impairment screening.

Concurrent validity of the Groningen Meander Walking and Timed Up and Go tests in older adults with dementia.

: The Groningen Meander Walking time (GMW-sec) test has not been clinically validated as a feasible assessment to test functional mobility skills. The purpose of this study was to determine the concurrent validity of the GMW-sec test with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test in older adults with dementia. : This study included a cross-sectional and between subjects design with one factor, which had three different levels of group.

Comparison of the effects on dynamic balance and aerobic capacity between objective and subjective methods of high-intensity robot-assisted gait training in chronic stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) is effective for improving dynamic balance and aerobic capacity, but previous RAGT method does not set suitable training intensity. Recently, high-intensity treadmill gait training at 70% of heart rate reserve (HRR) was used for improving aerobic capacity and dynamic balance.

Purpose: This study was designed to compare the effectiveness between objective and subjective methods of high-intensity RAGT for improving dynamic balance and aerobic capacity in chronic stroke.

Comparison of joint angles and electromyographic activity of the lower extremities during standing with wearing standard and revised high-heeled shoes: A pilot study.

Revised high-heeled shoes (HHSs) were designed to improve the shortcomings of standard HHSs. This study was conducted to compare revised and standard HHSs with regard to joint angles and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower extremities during standing. The participants were five healthy young women.

The Effectiveness of Incorporating a Play-based Intervention to Improve Functional Mobility for a Child with Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: A Case Report.

Background And Purpose: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is one of the most common forms of cancer seen in children, accounting for one-fourth of all childhood cancers. These children typically present with decreased functional mobility, weakened lower extremity muscle strength and reduced exercise endurance and interests because of disease progressions and chemotherapy treatments. The purpose of this case report was to examine the effectiveness of incorporating a play-based physical therapy (PT) intervention programme to improve functional mobility for an inpatient with relapsed ALL undergoing chemotherapy.

The influence of revised high-heeled shoes on foot pressure and center of pressure during standing in young women.

[Purpose] Revised high-heeled shoes were developed to minimize foot deformities by reducing excessive load on the forefoot during walking or standing in adult females, who frequently wear standard high-heeled shoes. Specifically, this study aimed to investigate the effects of revised high-heeled shoes on foot pressure distribution and center of pressure distance during standing in adult females. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve healthy adult females were recruited to participate in this study.

Effect of revised high-heeled shoes on foot pressure and static balance during standing.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of revised high-heeled shoes on the foot pressure ratio and static balance during standing. [Subjects and Methods] A single-subject design was used, 15 healthy women wearing revised high-heeled shoes and general high-heeled shoes in a random order. The foot pressure ratio and static balance scores during standing were measured using a SpaceBalance 3D system.

Effect of bilateral step-up and -down training on motor function in a person with hemiparesis: a case report.

Gait training to facilitate the use of the paretic limb for persons with hemiparesis continues to be of interest to those in the clinical research domain. The purpose of this case report was to assess the outcomes of a repeated step-up and -down treatment, initiating with the paretic limb, on functional mobility, endurance and gait kinematic parameters in a person with hemiparesis. The participant was an 85-year-old female 3 years status post left hemiparesis, who reported overall good health.

Gait speed is limited but improves over the course of acute care physical therapy.

Background: Gait is a common focus of physical therapists' management of patients in acute care settings. Walking speed, the distance a patient covers per unit time, has been advocated as a "sixth vital sign." However, the feasibility of measuring walking speed and the degree to which walking speed is limited or improves over the course of therapy in the acute care setting are unclear.

Effects of limb loading on gait initiation in persons with moderate hemiparesis.

Purpose: To examine the immediate effect of symmetrical weight bearing (SWB) on temporal events of gait initiation (GI) patterns and timing and amplitude of lower distal limb muscles activity during GI in persons with hemiparesis.

Method: The study was a within-subjects design. Twelve persons with hemiparesis were recruited from the Veterans Affairs Brain Rehabilitation Research Center at the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs, Gainesville, Florida.

Walking speed and peak plantar pressure distribution during barefoot walking in persons with diabetes.

Background: The impact of walking speed has not been evaluated as a feasible outcome measure associated with peak plantar pressure (PPP) distribution, which may result in tissue damage in persons with diabetic foot complications. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the walking speed and PPP distribution during barefoot walking in persons with diabetes. 

Methods:  Nine individuals with diabetes and nine age-gender matched individuals without diabetes participated in this study.

Changes in distal muscle timing may contribute to slowness during sit to stand in Parkinsons disease.

Objective: To compare patterns of muscle activation in the lower extremity and subsequent forces during sit to stand in persons with Parkinsonism.

Background: There is an interruption of the tibialis anterior/soleus interaction during forward oriented movements in some subjects with Parkinsonism, including sit to stand. This task is a major determinant of independence and 44% of those with Parkinsonism report difficulty.