Walking speed can be modulated on an adaptive split-belt treadmill.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Adaptive treadmills (ATMs) enhance gait rehabilitation by mimicking natural variability.
• Existing ATMs adjust belt speed based on gait parameters.
• There is a need for treadmills that allow targeted, unilateral gait adjustments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a new adaptive split-belt treadmill (sATM) against a tied-belt ATM.
• To assess the sATM's ability to modify unilateral propulsion.
• To investigate user-specific responses to unilateral gait modifications.

Main Methods:

• Fourteen healthy participants walked on a tied ATM and the novel sATM.
• Trials included bilateral and unilateral modifications of belt speed based on propulsion and position.
• The effect of weighting unilateral propulsion was evaluated.

Main Results:

• The sATM demonstrated equivalent propulsion and walking speed compared to the tied ATM during bilateral modifications.
• Unilateral modifications elicited user-specific responses in propulsion and walking speed.
• The sATM allows for individual tuning to promote unilateral control strategies.

Conclusions:

• The validated sATM provides a platform for targeted gait rehabilitation.
• Individualized control strategies can be implemented using the sATM.
• The sATM successfully modulates walking speed and allows for unilateral gait adjustments.