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Body weight support impacts lateral stability during treadmill walking.

Andrew C Dragunas1, Keith E Gordon2

  • 1Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.

Journal of Biomechanics
|June 11, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Body weight support (BWS) systems alter gait stability. While BWS reduced step width variability, potentially aiding control, it also increased step width, indicating a complex effect on balance during rehabilitation.

Keywords:
BalanceBiomechanicsBody weight supportFoot placementGaitMargin of stabilityRehabilitationStability

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Neurorehabilitation
  • Human locomotion

Background:

  • Body weight support (BWS) systems are widely used in gait rehabilitation to assist individuals with mobility impairments.
  • BWS systems can influence postural control by altering mechanical stability requirements.
  • The specific effects of BWS on lateral stability during walking are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the interaction between body weight support (BWS) and lateral stability during gait.
  • To investigate how BWS affects the mechanical demands on the nervous system for maintaining stability.
  • To test hypotheses regarding the influence of BWS on lateral restoring forces and gravitational moments.

Main Methods:

  • Able-bodied participants walked under various body weight support (BWS) conditions.
  • Gait parameters, including step width and variability, were measured.
  • Dynamically similar and speed-matched walking conditions were analyzed to isolate effects.

Main Results:

  • Participants significantly decreased step width variability with BWS.
  • Step width significantly increased with BWS across both tested conditions.
  • Findings suggest a complex interplay between BWS, lateral stability, and locomotor control.

Conclusions:

  • Body weight support (BWS) influences gait stability by reducing step width variability, possibly due to mechanical assistance and improved proprioception.
  • Increased step width with higher BWS levels may result from reduced gravitational moments, challenging multi-planar stability control.
  • The study highlights the complex effects of BWS on gait dynamics, with implications for optimizing rehabilitation strategies.