Adaptations in the walking pattern of spinal cord injured rats

Walking ability is a measure of recovery used in many studies that test experimental strategies to treat injuries or diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in animal models. A common measure in the rat animal model of thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) is visual inspection and scoring of hind limb activity, which allows the documentation of movements associated with the recovery of locomotor function. In this study, we expand on previously documented visible changes in the locomotor pattern following SCI. The spontaneous recovery of locomotion in rats with thoracic SCIs of variable extent was evaluated using electromyographic (EMG) and kinematic analysis while rats walked on an elevated runway. Comparisons with pre-lesion walking sequences revealed changes in the kinematics and in the muscle activation pattern of various muscles, including enhanced fore limb extensor activity, possibly reflecting an increased contribution to propulsion, altered recruitment of back muscles inserting into the hip (possibly to support stepping movements), and elevated posture during stance, which may compensate for deficits in weight support. These changes were noted in spinal cord injured rats with varying degrees of impairment, including animals with no visually detectable deficit in open-field walking. In summary, the presented results demonstrate that spinal cord injured rats develop alternative locomotor patterns following SCI that cannot be discriminated by the use of qualitative visually based analysis, thus urging the use of quantitative outcome measures in assessing motor function after SCI.