Delval A, Bayot M, Lapoulvereyrie R, Defebvre L, Vermersch P, Tard C. Role of the peripheral nervous system for an appropriate postural preparation during gait initiation in patients with a chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: A pilot study.
Gait Posture 2021;
90:29-35. [PMID:
34371225 DOI:
10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.08.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Gait initiation is an automatized motor program that is preceded by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). During attentional tasks, these APAs can be modulated, producing multiple APAs. However, the role of the peripheral nervous system in the regulation of these APAs is unknown.
RESEARCH QUESTION
The objective of our study was to investigate whether APAs are also regulated by peripheral nervous afferents.
METHODS
We assessed 21 patients suffering from chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy and 20 healthy controls. Participants initiated gait with the right or left leg either freely (in the standard condition) or according to a visual trigger (i.e., the select condition). Kinetic and kinematic parameters of APAs and step initiation were recorded.
RESULTS
The select condition was related to a higher rate of multiple APAs compared to the standard condition, and was more attention-consuming in both groups. The group with a neuropathy showed longer APAs than the control group, associated with a longer time to recover from multiple APAs. Consequently, the step execution time was delayed in patients with a peripheral neuropathy.
SIGNIFICANCE
The impairment of the peripheral nervous system is therefore responsible for an alteration of the mechanisms underlying the recovery from multiple APAs during gait initiation. Our results are in favor of a role of proprioceptive afferents in the early peripheral regulation of motor errors. Further study on gait initiation in peripheral nervous disease could be helpful to better explore sensory-motor coupling in tasks requiring balance control.
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