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Effect of partial foot anaesthesia on normal gait
Michelle McDonnell1, Andrea Warden-Flood
1School of Physiotherapy, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia. andrea.wardenflood@unisa.edu.au
The Australian Journal of Physiotherapy
|October 26, 2001
Summary
Partial foot anesthesia using Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics (EMLA) significantly reduced walking speed in healthy women. This highlights the crucial role of cutaneous sensation in maintaining gait stability, especially in challenging environments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Human Physiology
Background:
- The contribution of cutaneous sensation to normal gait remains debated.
- Understanding sensory input's role is vital for addressing gait impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of partial foot anesthesia on gait velocity.
- To determine if reduced cutaneous sensation affects walking speed in healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind study involving 20 healthy female subjects.
- Random allocation to Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics (EMLA) or Vitamin E Cream (control).
- Gait velocity measured over a compliant foam walkway before and after a 60-minute rest period.
Main Results:
- Mean gait velocity decreased by 6.06m/min in the EMLA group.
- No significant change in velocity was observed in the control group.
- This indicates a significant effect of anesthesia on walking speed.
Conclusions:
- Cutaneous sensation is important for maintaining gait velocity, particularly in less predictable environments.
- Loss of foot cutaneous sensation can contribute to gait deficits.
- The findings support the significance of somatosensory feedback for stable locomotion.