Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
08:01
Compensatory Limb Use and Behavioral Assessment of Motor Skill Learning Following Sensorimotor Cortex Injury in a Mouse Model of Ischemic Stroke
Published on: July 10, 2014
Rules to limp by: joint compensation conserves limb function after peripheral nerve injury.
Jay M Bauman1, Young-Hui Chang
1Comparative Neuromechanics Laboratory, School of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA 30332-0356, USA.
Biology Letters
|August 16, 2013
Summary
Rodent locomotion adapts to peripheral nerve injury by preserving overall limb movement over individual joint control. This highlights limb-level function
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Locomotion studies
Background:
- Locomotion is robust against various internal and external disruptions.
- Peripheral nerve injury can significantly impair motor control and locomotion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate compensatory strategies employed during locomotion following peripheral nerve injury in rodent models.
- To understand how the nervous system adapts to altered limb mechanics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized rodent models with permanent denervation of ankle extensor muscles.
- Analyzed kinematic data focusing on limb and joint angles during locomotion.
Main Results:
- Observed preferential preservation of hip-to-toe limb length and overall limb angle.
- Individual joint angles showed less preservation compared to limb-level parameters.
Conclusions:
- Limb-level kinematic parameters are prioritized during locomotion after peripheral nerve injury.
- Findings suggest the significance of limb-level control strategies for neuromechanical adaptation in legged locomotion.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology
Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...
01:25Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology
Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...
01:07Development of the Limb Synovial Joints
Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
01:23Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
During the postoperative period, it is crucial to focus on maintaining circulation, identifying and managing potential complications, and planning for discharge.Nursing AssessmentVital signs monitoring: Regularly monitor vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature, to detect early signs of complications such as bleeding and infection.Circulation assessment: Monitor pulses, perform Doppler assessments, and check capillary refill, color, temperature, and...
01:15Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...