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Updated: May 8, 2026
Using a Split-belt Treadmill to Evaluate Generalization of Human Locomotor Adaptation
Published on: August 23, 2017
Treadmill training in moderate risk preterm infants promotes stepping quality--results of a small randomised
R M Angulo-Barroso1, C Tiernan, L C Chen
1Department of Health and Applied Sciences, INEFC University of Barcelona, Spain; Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Insights
Treadmill training improved stepping quality in infants at risk for neuromotor delay (NMD) but did not significantly alter walking onset. However, stepping frequency correlated with walking onset, suggesting potential benefits with individualized training.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Infants at risk for neuromotor delay (NMD), often due to premature birth or low birth weight, may present with tone, posture, and movement abnormalities.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for facilitating motor development in this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential benefits of treadmill (TM) training for infants at risk for NMD.
- To explore the relationship between TM stepping performance and the age of walking onset.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-eight infants at moderate risk for NMD were randomized into a TM training group (N=15) or a control group (N=13).
- The experimental group received 8 minutes of TM training daily, five days a week, until walking onset.
- Monthly videotaped analyses of TM stepping performance were conducted for both groups to assess frequency and quality.
Main Results:
- The TM training group demonstrated significantly better TM stepping performance compared to the control group.
- There was no significant difference in the age of walking onset between the TM training group (15.1 months) and the control group (14.6 months).
- In both groups, the frequency of TM stepping was significantly correlated with the age of walking onset.
Conclusions:
- Current TM training protocols positively impacted stepping quality but did not significantly advance the age of walking onset in infants at moderate risk for NMD.
- The significant relationship between stepping frequency and walking onset, coupled with the study's parameters, suggests that future research should explore individualized, more intense, and prolonged TM training.
- Further investigation into the effects of tailored TM training on gait-specific variables is warranted.
Abstract:
Infants at risk for neuromotor delay (NMD) are associated with premature birth and low birth weight. These infants frequently exhibit tone, posture, and movement abnormalities. Therefore, it is important to identify potential interventions to facilitate early motor development within this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential benefits of treadmill (TM) training in infants at risk for NMD. Furthermore, relationships between TM stepping performance and onset of walking have been suggested, and therefore, were also explored. Twenty-eight infants at moderate risk for NMD were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) TM training (experimental) (N=15) or (2) control (N=13). Infants in the experimental group were trained for 8 min/day, five days/week from study entry until walking onset. Monthly, 5 min of TM stepping performance were videotaped and analysed for infants in both groups to obtain frequency and quality of TM stepping. Groups were different in terms of TM stepping performance with experimental group displaying better stepping. However, they did not differ in age of walking onset (experimental=15.1 months, control=14.6 months). In both groups, frequency of TM stepping was significantly related to onset of walking. Findings suggest that TM training as implemented impact the quality of TM stepping, but did not significantly improve walking onset. Given the significant relationship between stepping and walking onset, the moderate affection of the population, the relative low intensity and lack of individualisation of the training, we suggest future research should further explore the impact of TM training on gait-related variables and include individualised, more intense, and prolonged training.
