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Published on: January 16, 2019
Impact of enhanced sensory input on treadmill step frequency: infants born with myelomeningocele
Annette Pantall1, Caroline Teulier, Beth A Smith
1Developmental Neuromotor Control Laboratory, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. pantall@umich.edu
Purpose:
To determine the effect of enhanced sensory input on the step frequency of infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) when supported on a motorized treadmill.
Methods:
Twenty-seven infants aged 2 to 10 months with MMC lesions at, or caudal to, L1 participated. We supported infants upright on the treadmill for 2 sets of 6 trials, each 30 seconds long. Enhanced sensory inputs within each set were presented in random order and included baseline, visual flow, unloading, weights, Velcro, and friction.
Results:
Overall friction and visual flow significantly increased step rate, particularly for the older subjects. Friction and Velcro increased stance-phase duration. Enhanced sensory input had minimal effect on leg activity when infants were not stepping.
Conclusions:
: Increased friction via Dycem and enhancing visual flow via a checkerboard pattern on the treadmill belt appear to be more effective than the traditional smooth black belt surface for eliciting stepping patterns in infants with MMC.
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