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Ankle load modulates hip kinetics and EMG during human locomotion
Keith E Gordon1, Ming Wu, Jennifer H Kahn
1Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 345 E. Superior St., Rm. 1406, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. keith-gordon@northwestern.edu
Journal of Neurophysiology
|February 6, 2009
Summary
Ankle-foot loading during walking significantly enhances hip extension moments in both individuals with and without spinal cord injury (SCI). This sensory feedback aids SCI individuals in regulating gait, showing potential for improved mobility.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Locomotion relies on complex sensory-motor integration.
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts neural control of movement, affecting gait patterns.
- Ankle-foot afferent feedback plays a crucial role in regulating gait.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of isolated ankle-foot loading on locomotor control in humans.
- To determine if spinal cord injury (SCI) affects the response to ankle-foot load perturbations during gait.
- To explore the phase-specific effects of ankle-foot loading on hip joint moments and muscle activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a powered ankle-foot orthosis for unilateral ankle-foot loading during robotically assisted airstepping.
- Applied dorsiflexion torque to stimulate plantar flexor muscle and sole foot pressure receptors.
- Compared responses between individuals with and without SCI under loaded and unloaded conditions, varying load timing.
Main Results:
- Both SCI and non-disabled subjects showed significantly increased peak hip extension moments with stance-phase ankle-foot loading.
- SCI subjects exhibited increased gluteus maximus activity during the stance phase with loading.
- Altering the timing of ankle-foot load application resulted in significant phase shifts in hip moment profiles for SCI subjects.
Conclusions:
- Ankle-foot loading provides crucial sensory feedback for gait regulation in humans.
- Individuals with SCI utilize ankle-foot load afferents to modulate hip joint moments and muscle activity.
- Findings offer insights into sensory-based strategies for improving gait in SCI.
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