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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Delays Responses To Lateral Balance Perturbations Regardless Of Predictability, T. F. Boerger, L. Mcginn, M. C. Wang, Brian Schmit, Allison S. Hyngstrom
Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy Delays Responses To Lateral Balance Perturbations Regardless Of Predictability, T. F. Boerger, L. Mcginn, M. C. Wang, Brian Schmit, Allison S. Hyngstrom
Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications
The aim of this study was to quantify balance impairments in standing in people with degenerative cervical myelopathy (PwDCM) in response to external perturbations. PwDCM have damage to their spinal cord due to degeneration of the cervical vertebral column, but little is known about balance. Balance was quantified by capturing kinetics, kinematic, and electromyographic data during standing in response to lateral waist pulls. Participants received pulls during predictable and unpredictable contexts in three stance widths at two magnitudes. In response to lateral waist pulls, PwDCM had larger center of mass excursion (P < 0.001) and delayed gluteus medius electromyography onset (P < 0.001) and peak (P < 0.001) timing. These main effects of history of myelopathy were consistent across predictability, stance width, and magnitude. A multilinear regression determined that gluteus medius peak timing + tibialis anterior peak timing most strongly predicted center of mass excursion (R2 = 0.50, P < 0.001). These data suggest that PwDCM have delays in generating voluntary and reactive motor commands, contributing to balance impairments. Future rehabilitation strategies should focus on generating rapid muscular contractions. Additionally, frontal plane postural control is regulated by the gluteus medius and the tibialis anterior, whereas other muscles (e.g. gluteus minimus, ankle invertors/evertors) not studied here may also contribute.
Influence Of Visual Feedback On Dynamic Balance Control In Chronic Stroke Survivors, Eric R. Walker, Allison S. Hyngstrom, Brian D. Schmit
Influence Of Visual Feedback On Dynamic Balance Control In Chronic Stroke Survivors, Eric R. Walker, Allison S. Hyngstrom, Brian D. Schmit
Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications
Chronic stroke survivors have an increased incidence of falls during walking, suggesting changes in dynamic balance control post-stroke. Despite this increased incidence of falls during walking, balance control is often studied only in standing. The purpose of this study was to quantify deficits in dynamic balance control during walking, and to evaluate the influence of visual feedback on this control in stroke survivors. Ten individuals with chronic stroke, and ten neurologically intact individuals participated in this study. Walking performance was assessed while participants walked on an instrumented split-belt treadmill with different types of visual feedback. Dynamic balance control was quantified …
Sensory Electrical Stimulation Improves Foot Placement During Targeted Stepping Post-Stroke, Eric R. Walker, Allison Hyngstrom, Brian D. Schmit
Sensory Electrical Stimulation Improves Foot Placement During Targeted Stepping Post-Stroke, Eric R. Walker, Allison Hyngstrom, Brian D. Schmit
Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications
Proper foot placement is vital for maintaining balance during walking, requiring the integration of multiple sensory signals with motor commands. Disruption of brain structures post-stroke likely alters the processing of sensory information by motor centers, interfering with precision control of foot placement and walking function for stroke survivors. In this study, we examined whether somatosensory stimulation, which improves functional movements of the paretic hand, could be used to improve foot placement of the paretic limb. Foot placement was evaluated before, during, and after application of somatosensory electrical stimulation to the paretic foot during a targeted stepping task. Starting from standing, …
Whole Body Momentum During Gait: A Preliminary Study Of Non-Fallers And Frequent Fallers, Guy G. Simoneau, David E. Krebs
Whole Body Momentum During Gait: A Preliminary Study Of Non-Fallers And Frequent Fallers, Guy G. Simoneau, David E. Krebs
Physical Therapy Faculty Research and Publications
The importance of momentum in compensating for elderly individua ls ' strength deficits to achieve activities of daily living. such as rising from a chair ha.!o been demonstrated in earlier studies. Here we present a case control study of three healthy "non-fallers" and two "frequent fallers," All 5 elders were community-living and were tested in the gai l laboratory. A four-camera Selspot system was used to obtain whole-body momentum from an 11-segment kinematic model. Ground reaction forces and kinematics were used 10 calculate lower extremity join! moments. With the exception of the whole-body's angular momentum about the vertical axis, linear …