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Castiglia SF, Trabassi D, Conte C, Gioiosa V, Sebastianelli G, Abagnale C, Ranavolo A, Di Lorenzo C, Coppola G, Casali C, Serrao M. Local Dynamic Stability of Trunk During Gait is Responsive to Rehabilitation in Subjects with Primary Degenerative Cerebellar Ataxia. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:1478-1489. [PMID: 38279000 PMCID: PMC11269439 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01663-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the responsiveness to the rehabilitation of three trunk acceleration-derived gait indexes, namely the harmonic ratio (HR), the short-term longest Lyapunov's exponent (sLLE), and the step-to-step coefficient of variation (CV), in a sample of subjects with primary degenerative cerebellar ataxia (swCA), and investigate the correlations between their improvements (∆), clinical characteristics, and spatio-temporal and kinematic gait features. The trunk acceleration patterns in the antero-posterior (AP), medio-lateral (ML), and vertical (V) directions during gait of 21 swCA were recorded using a magneto-inertial measurement unit placed at the lower back before (T0) and after (T1) a period of inpatient rehabilitation. For comparison, a sample of 21 age- and gait speed-matched healthy subjects (HSmatched) was also included. At T1, sLLE in the AP (sLLEAP) and ML (sLLEML) directions significantly improved with moderate to large effect sizes, as well as SARA scores, stride length, and pelvic rotation. sLLEML and pelvic rotation also approached the HSmatched values at T1, suggesting a normalization of the parameter. HRs and CV did not significantly modify after rehabilitation. ∆sLLEML correlated with ∆ of the gait subscore of the SARA scale (SARAGAIT) and ∆stride length and ∆sLLEAP correlated with ∆pelvic rotation and ∆SARAGAIT. The minimal clinically important differences for sLLEML and sLLEAP were ≥ 36.16% and ≥ 28.19%, respectively, as the minimal score reflects a clinical improvement in SARA scores. When using inertial measurement units, sLLEAP and sLLEML can be considered responsive outcome measures for assessing the effectiveness of rehabilitation on trunk stability during walking in swCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Dante Trabassi
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Carmela Conte
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Valeria Gioiosa
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sebastianelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Chiara Abagnale
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida, 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078, Rome, Italy
| | - Cherubino Di Lorenzo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Gianluca Coppola
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Carlo Casali
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso Della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
- Movement Analysis Laboratory, Policlinico Italia, Piazza del Campidano, 6, 00162, Rome, Italy
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Fiori L, Castiglia SF, Chini G, Draicchio F, Sacco F, Serrao M, Tatarelli A, Varrecchia T, Ranavolo A. The Lower Limb Muscle Co-Activation Map during Human Locomotion: From Slow Walking to Running. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:288. [PMID: 38534562 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11030288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) controls movements and regulates joint stiffness with muscle co-activation, but until now, few studies have examined muscle pairs during running. This study aims to investigate differences in lower limb muscle coactivation during gait at different speeds, from walking to running. Nineteen healthy runners walked and ran at speeds ranging from 0.8 km/h to 9.3 km/h. Twelve lower limb muscles' co-activation was calculated using the time-varying multi-muscle co-activation function (TMCf) with global, flexor-extension, and rostro-caudal approaches. Spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters were also measured. We found that TMCf, spatiotemporal, and kinematic parameters were significantly affected by gait speed for all approaches. Significant differences were observed in the main parameters of each co-activation approach and in the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters at the transition between walking and running. In particular, significant differences were observed in the global co-activation (CIglob, main effect F(1,17) = 641.04, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001), the stride length (main effect F(1,17) = 253.03, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001), the stride frequency (main effect F(1,17) = 714.22, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) and the Center of Mass displacement in the vertical (CoMy, main effect F(1,17) = 426.2, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) and medial-lateral (CoMz, main effect F(1,17) = 120.29 p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) directions. Regarding the correlation analysis, the CoMy was positively correlated with a higher CIglob (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHMglob, r = -0.83, p < 0.001), whereas the CoMz was positively correlated with the global Center of Activity (CoAglob, r = 0.97, p < 0.001). Positive and negative strong correlations were found between global co-activation parameters and center of mass displacements, as well as some spatiotemporal parameters, regardless of gait speed. Our findings suggest that walking and running have different co-activation patterns and kinematic characteristics, with the whole-limb stiffness exerted more synchronously and stably during running. The co-activation indexes and kinematic parameters could be the result of global co-activation, which is a sensory-control integration process used by the CNS to deal with more demanding and potentially unstable tasks like running.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Fiori
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
- Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Program, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Via Franco Faggiana 1668, 04100 Latina, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 21, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giorgia Chini
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Draicchio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Sacco
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Via Franco Faggiana 1668, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Antonella Tatarelli
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
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Manto M, Serrao M, Filippo Castiglia S, Timmann D, Tzvi-Minker E, Pan MK, Kuo SH, Ugawa Y. Neurophysiology of cerebellar ataxias and gait disorders. Clin Neurophysiol Pract 2023; 8:143-160. [PMID: 37593693 PMCID: PMC10429746 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There are numerous forms of cerebellar disorders from sporadic to genetic diseases. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the advances and emerging techniques during these last 2 decades in the neurophysiological tests useful in cerebellar patients for clinical and research purposes. Clinically, patients exhibit various combinations of a vestibulocerebellar syndrome, a cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome and a cerebellar motor syndrome which will be discussed throughout this chapter. Cerebellar patients show abnormal Bereitschaftpotentials (BPs) and mismatch negativity. Cerebellar EEG is now being applied in cerebellar disorders to unravel impaired electrophysiological patterns associated within disorders of the cerebellar cortex. Eyeblink conditioning is significantly impaired in cerebellar disorders: the ability to acquire conditioned eyeblink responses is reduced in hereditary ataxias, in cerebellar stroke and after tumor surgery of the cerebellum. Furthermore, impaired eyeblink conditioning is an early marker of cerebellar degenerative disease. General rules of motor control suggest that optimal strategies are needed to execute voluntary movements in the complex environment of daily life. A high degree of adaptability is required for learning procedures underlying motor control as sensorimotor adaptation is essential to perform accurate goal-directed movements. Cerebellar patients show impairments during online visuomotor adaptation tasks. Cerebellum-motor cortex inhibition (CBI) is a neurophysiological biomarker showing an inverse association between cerebellothalamocortical tract integrity and ataxia severity. Ataxic gait is characterized by increased step width, reduced ankle joint range of motion, increased gait variability, lack of intra-limb inter-joint and inter-segmental coordination, impaired foot ground placement and loss of trunk control. Taken together, these techniques provide a neurophysiological framework for a better appraisal of cerebellar disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Manto
- Service des Neurosciences, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
- Service de Neurologie, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79 04100, Latina, Italy
- Gait Analysis LAB Policlinico Italia, Via Del Campidano 6 00162, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79 04100, Latina, Italy
- Gait Analysis LAB Policlinico Italia, Via Del Campidano 6 00162, Rome, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, via Bassi, 21, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Elinor Tzvi-Minker
- Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Syte Institute, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ming-Kai Pan
- Cerebellar Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin 64041, Taiwan
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei City 11529, Taiwan
- Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei City 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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4
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Castiglia SF, Trabassi D, Tatarelli A, Ranavolo A, Varrecchia T, Fiori L, Di Lenola D, Cioffi E, Raju M, Coppola G, Caliandro P, Casali C, Serrao M. Identification of Gait Unbalance and Fallers Among Subjects with Cerebellar Ataxia by a Set of Trunk Acceleration-Derived Indices of Gait. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:46-58. [PMID: 35079958 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01361-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the ability of 25 gait indices to characterize gait instability and recurrent fallers among persons with primary degenerative cerebellar ataxia (pwCA), regardless of gait speed, and investigate their correlation with clinical and kinematic variables. Trunk acceleration patterns were acquired during the gait of 34 pwCA, and 34 age- and speed-matched healthy subjects (HSmatched) using an inertial measurement unit. We calculated harmonic ratios (HR), percent recurrence, percent determinism, step length coefficient of variation, short-time largest Lyapunov exponent (sLLE), normalized jerk score, log-dimensionless jerk (LDLJ-A), root mean square (RMS), and root mean square ratio of accelerations (RMSR) in each spatial direction for each participant. Unpaired t-tests or Mann-Whitney tests were performed to identify significant differences between the pwCA and HSmatched groups. Receiver operating characteristics were plotted to assess the ability to characterize gait alterations in pwCA and fallers. Optimal cutoff points were identified, and post-test probabilities were calculated. The HRs showed to characterize gait instability and pwCA fallers with high probabilities. They were correlated with disease severity and stance, swing, and double support duration, regardless of gait speed. sLLEs, RMSs, RMSRs, and LDLJ-A were slightly able to characterize the gait of pwCA but failed to characterize fallers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.
| | - Dante Trabassi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Antonella Tatarelli
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, via Fontana Candida, 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078, Rome, Italy.,Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, via Fontana Candida, 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, via Fontana Candida, 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Fiori
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, via Fontana Candida, 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078, Rome, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Di Lenola
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Ettore Cioffi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.,Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Manikandan Raju
- Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Coppola
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Pietro Caliandro
- Unità Operativa Complessa Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Casali
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, "Sapienza" University of Rome-Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100, Latina, Italy.,Movement Analysis Laboratory, Policlinico Italia, Piazza del Campidano, 6, 00162, Rome, Italy
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5
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Cabaraux P, Agrawal SK, Cai H, Calabro RS, Casali C, Damm L, Doss S, Habas C, Horn AKE, Ilg W, Louis ED, Mitoma H, Monaco V, Petracca M, Ranavolo A, Rao AK, Ruggieri S, Schirinzi T, Serrao M, Summa S, Strupp M, Surgent O, Synofzik M, Tao S, Terasi H, Torres-Russotto D, Travers B, Roper JA, Manto M. Consensus Paper: Ataxic Gait. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 22:394-430. [PMID: 35414041 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01373-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this consensus paper is to discuss the roles of the cerebellum in human gait, as well as its assessment and therapy. Cerebellar vermis is critical for postural control. The cerebellum ensures the mapping of sensory information into temporally relevant motor commands. Mental imagery of gait involves intrinsically connected fronto-parietal networks comprising the cerebellum. Muscular activities in cerebellar patients show impaired timing of discharges, affecting the patterning of the synergies subserving locomotion. Ataxia of stance/gait is amongst the first cerebellar deficits in cerebellar disorders such as degenerative ataxias and is a disabling symptom with a high risk of falls. Prolonged discharges and increased muscle coactivation may be related to compensatory mechanisms and enhanced body sway, respectively. Essential tremor is frequently associated with mild gait ataxia. There is growing evidence for an important role of the cerebellar cortex in the pathogenesis of essential tremor. In multiple sclerosis, balance and gait are affected due to cerebellar and spinal cord involvement, as a result of disseminated demyelination and neurodegeneration impairing proprioception. In orthostatic tremor, patients often show mild-to-moderate limb and gait ataxia. The tremor generator is likely located in the posterior fossa. Tandem gait is impaired in the early stages of cerebellar disorders and may be particularly useful in the evaluation of pre-ataxic stages of progressive ataxias. Impaired inter-joint coordination and enhanced variability of gait temporal and kinetic parameters can be grasped by wearable devices such as accelerometers. Kinect is a promising low cost technology to obtain reliable measurements and remote assessments of gait. Deep learning methods are being developed in order to help clinicians in the diagnosis and decision-making process. Locomotor adaptation is impaired in cerebellar patients. Coordinative training aims to improve the coordinative strategy and foot placements across strides, cerebellar patients benefiting from intense rehabilitation therapies. Robotic training is a promising approach to complement conventional rehabilitation and neuromodulation of the cerebellum. Wearable dynamic orthoses represent a potential aid to assist gait. The panel of experts agree that the understanding of the cerebellar contribution to gait control will lead to a better management of cerebellar ataxias in general and will likely contribute to use gait parameters as robust biomarkers of future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Cabaraux
- Unité Des Ataxies Cérébelleuses, Department of Neurology, CHU de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.
| | | | - Huaying Cai
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | | | - Carlo Casali
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy
| | - Loic Damm
- EuroMov Digital Health in Motion, Univ Montpellier, IMT Mines Ales, Montpellier, France
| | - Sarah Doss
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Christophe Habas
- Université Versailles Saint-Quentin, Versailles, France.,Service de NeuroImagerie, Centre Hospitalier National des 15-20, Paris, France
| | - Anja K E Horn
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology I, Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Vito Monaco
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Petracca
- Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Ashwini K Rao
- Department of Rehabilitation & Regenerative Medicine (Programs in Physical Therapy), Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serena Ruggieri
- Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Neuroimmunology Unit, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Schirinzi
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy.,Movement Analysis LAB, Policlinico Italia, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Summa
- MARlab, Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Michael Strupp
- Department of Neurology and German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Hospital of the Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Olivia Surgent
- Neuroscience Training Program and Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Centre of Neurology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Shuai Tao
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Smart Medical and Health, Dalian University, Dalian, 116622, China
| | - Hiroo Terasi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Diego Torres-Russotto
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA
| | - Brittany Travers
- Department of Kinesiology and Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jaimie A Roper
- School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Mario Manto
- Unité Des Ataxies Cérébelleuses, Department of Neurology, CHU de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium.,Service Des Neurosciences, University of Mons, UMons, Mons, Belgium
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6
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Impairment of Global Lower Limb Muscle Coactivation During Walking in Cerebellar Ataxias. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 19:583-596. [PMID: 32410093 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the time-varying multi-muscle coactivation function (TMCf) in the lower limbs during gait and its relationship with the biomechanical and clinical features of patients with cerebellar ataxia. A total of 23 patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia (16 with spinocerebellar ataxia, 7 with adult-onset ataxia of unknown etiology) and 23 age-, sex-, and speed-matched controls were investigated. The disease severity was assessed using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) in all patients. During walking, simultaneous acquisition of kinematic, kinetic, and electromyography data was performed using a motion analysis system. The coactivation was processed throughout the gait cycle using the TMCf, and the following parameters were measured: synthetic coactivation index, full width at half maximum, and center of activity. Spatiotemporal (walking speed, stance duration, swing duration, first and second double-support durations, step length, step width, stride length, Center of Mass displacement), kinetic (vertical component of GRFs), and energy consumption (total energy consumption and mechanical energy recovered) parameters were also measured. The coactivation variables were compared between patients and controls and were correlated with both clinical and gait variables. A significantly increased global TMCf was found in patients compared with controls. In addition, the patients showed a significant shift of the center of activity toward the initial contact and a significant reduction in energy recovery. All coactivation parameters were negatively correlated with gait speed, whereas the coactivation index and center of activity were positively correlated with both center-of-mass mediolateral displacement values and SARA scores. Our findings suggest that patients use global coactivation as a compensatory mechanism during the earliest and most challenging subphase (loading response) of the gait cycle to reduce the lateral body sway, thus improving gait stability at the expense of effective energy recovery. This information could be helpful in optimizing rehabilitative treatment aimed at improving lower limb muscle control during gait in patients with cerebella ataxia.
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7
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Caliandro P, Conte C, Iacovelli C, Tatarelli A, Castiglia SF, Reale G, Serrao M. Exploring Risk of Falls and Dynamic Unbalance in Cerebellar Ataxia by Inertial Sensor Assessment. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19245571. [PMID: 31861099 PMCID: PMC6960492 DOI: 10.3390/s19245571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background. Patients suffering from cerebellar ataxia have extremely variable gait kinematic features. We investigated whether and how wearable inertial sensors can describe the gait kinematic features among ataxic patients. Methods. We enrolled 17 patients and 16 matched control subjects. We acquired data by means of an inertial sensor attached to an ergonomic belt around pelvis, which was connected to a portable computer via Bluetooth. Recordings of all the patients were obtained during overground walking. From the accelerometric data, we obtained the harmonic ratio (HR), i.e., a measure of the acceleration patterns, smoothness and rhythm, and the step length coefficient of variation (CV), which evaluates the variability of the gait cycle. Results. Compared to controls, patients had a lower HR, meaning a less harmonic and rhythmic acceleration pattern of the trunk, and a higher step length CV, indicating a more variable step length. Both HR and step length CV showed a high effect size in distinguishing patients and controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). A positive correlation was found between the step length CV and both the number of falls (R = 0.672; p = 0.003) and the clinical severity (ICARS: R = 0.494; p = 0.044; SARA: R = 0.680; p = 0.003). Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that the use of inertial sensors is effective in evaluating gait and balance impairment among ataxic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Caliandro
- Unità Operativa Complessa Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carmela Conte
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Piazzale Morandi, 6, 20121 Milan, Italy;
| | - Chiara Iacovelli
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Piazzale Morandi, 6, 20121 Milan, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0633086554
| | - Antonella Tatarelli
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy;
| | - Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (S.F.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Reale
- Department of Neurosciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo F. Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (S.F.C.); (M.S.)
- Policlinico Italia, Movement Analysis Laboratory, Piazza del Campidano, 6, 00162 Rome, Italy
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