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Mari S, Lecomte CG, Merlet AN, Audet J, Harnie J, Rybak IA, Prilutsky BI, Frigon A. A sensory signal related to left-right symmetry modulates intra- and interlimb cutaneous reflexes during locomotion in intact cats. Front Syst Neurosci 2023; 17:1199079. [PMID: 37360774 PMCID: PMC10288215 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1199079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction During locomotion, cutaneous reflexes play an essential role in rapidly responding to an external perturbation, for example, to prevent a fall when the foot contacts an obstacle. In cats and humans, cutaneous reflexes involve all four limbs and are task- and phase modulated to generate functionally appropriate whole-body responses. Methods To assess task-dependent modulation of cutaneous interlimb reflexes, we electrically stimulated the superficial radial or superficial peroneal nerves in adult cats and recorded muscle activity in the four limbs during tied-belt (equal left-right speeds) and split-belt (different left-right speeds) locomotion. Results We show that the pattern of intra- and interlimb cutaneous reflexes in fore- and hindlimbs muscles and their phase-dependent modulation were conserved during tied-belt and split-belt locomotion. Short-latency cutaneous reflex responses to muscles of the stimulated limb were more likely to be evoked and phase-modulated when compared to muscles in the other limbs. In some muscles, the degree of reflex modulation was significantly reduced during split-belt locomotion compared to tied-belt conditions. Split-belt locomotion increased the step-by-step variability of left-right symmetry, particularly spatially. Discussion These results suggest that sensory signals related to left-right symmetry reduce cutaneous reflex modulation, potentially to avoid destabilizing an unstable pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Mari
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Charly G. Lecomte
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Angèle N. Merlet
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Johannie Audet
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Jonathan Harnie
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Ilya A. Rybak
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Boris I. Prilutsky
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alain Frigon
- Department of Pharmacology-Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Kannan L, Bhatt T, Zhang A, Ajilore O. Association of balance control mechanisms with brain structural integrity in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Neurosci Lett 2022; 783:136699. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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3
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Backward vs. Forward Gait Symmetry Analysis Based on Plantar Pressure Mapping. Symmetry (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sym14020203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Symmetry is one of the factors analysed in normal and pathological gaits. Backward gait is an area of interest to scientists, in terms of its physiology and therapeutic possibilities. This study aimed to analyse the symmetry of the pressure parameters of backward gait in comparison to forward gait using different symmetry indices. Eighty-one healthy people aged between 19 and 84 years took part in the study. Foot pressure distribution was analysed during forward and backward gaits at self-selected speeds. Mean and maximum pressure values were calculated after dividing the foot into four or ten areas. Delta, Ratio Index, Robinson Index, Gait Asymmetry, and Symmetry Angle were calculated for each area, separately for both forward and backward gaits. Higher ratios of asymmetry were found during backward than during forward gait. Larger ratios of asymmetry were found within toes II–V, forefoot, metatarsals I, II, and III, medial and lateral heel areas. No significant correlation between symmetry indices and age or BMI was found. Results suggested that the lower symmetry of backward gait is caused by a higher number of corrective movements that allow for the maintenance of body balance and global symmetry of gait. This can be realised by increased cortical control of the backward gait, which was a new movement task for all participants.
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Forward and backward walking share the same motor modules and locomotor adaptation strategies. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07864. [PMID: 34485742 PMCID: PMC8405989 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Forward and backward walking are remarkably similar motor behaviors to the extent that backward walking has been described as a time-reversed version of forward walking. However, because they display different muscle activity patterns, it has been questioned if forward and backward walking share common control strategies. To investigate this point, we used a split-belt treadmill experimental paradigm designed to elicit healthy individuals' motor adaptation by changing the speed of one of the treadmill belts, while keeping the speed of the other belt constant. We applied this experimental paradigm to both forward and backward walking. We analyzed several adaptation parameters including step symmetry, stability, and energy expenditure as well as the characteristics of the synergies of lower-limb muscles. We found that forward and backward walking share the same muscle synergy modules. We showed that these modules are marked by similar patterns of adaptation driven by stability and energy consumption minimization criteria, both relying on modulating the temporal activation of the muscle synergies. Our results provide evidence that forward and backward walking are governed by the same control and adaptation mechanisms.
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Madsen LP, Kitano K, Koceja DM, Zehr EP, Docherty CL. Modulation of cutaneous reflexes during sidestepping in adult humans. Exp Brain Res 2020; 238:2229-2243. [PMID: 32710371 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05877-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
A common neural control mechanism coordinates various types of rhythmic locomotion performed in the sagittal plane, but it is unclear whether frontal plane movements show similar neural patterning in adult humans. The purpose of this study was to compare cutaneous reflex modulation patterns evoked during sagittal and frontal plane rhythmic movements. Eight healthy, neurologically intact adults (three males, five females) walked and sidestepped on a treadmill at approximately 1 Hz. The sural nerve of the dominant (and lead) limb was stimulated randomly every 3-7 steps at eight phases of each gait cycle. Ipsilateral electromyographic recordings from four lower leg muscles and kinematic data from the ankle were collected continuously throughout both tasks. Data from unstimulated gait cycles were used as control trials to calculate middle-latency reflex responses (80-120 ms) and kinematic changes (140-220 ms) following electrical stimulation. Results show that the cutaneous reflex modulation patterns were similar across both tasks despite significant differences in background EMG activity. However, increased reflex amplitudes were observed during the late swing and early stance phases of sidestepping, which directly altered ankle kinematics. These results suggest that the neural control mechanisms responsible for coordinating sagittal locomotion are flexibly modified to coordinate frontal plane activities even with very different foot landing mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leif P Madsen
- Indiana University, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Koichi Kitano
- Indiana University, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - David M Koceja
- Indiana University, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - E Paul Zehr
- University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
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6
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Ansari B, Bhati P, Singla D, Nazish N, Hussain ME. Lumbar Muscle Activation Pattern During Forward and Backward Walking in Participants With and Without Chronic Low Back Pain: An Electromyographic Study. J Chiropr Med 2019; 17:217-225. [PMID: 30846913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcm.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the electromyographic activity of lumbar multifidus (MF) and erector spinae (ES) muscle during forward walking (FW) and backward walking (BW) in participants with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods Twenty-one patients with CLBP were recruited from outpatient department of Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia. Twenty-one age-matched healthy controls without CLBP were recruited from community. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was quantified for MF and ES using standard guidelines. Electromyographic activity of MF and ES was recorded using surface electrodes during FW and BW on a motorized treadmill, which was later normalized by respective MVIC's of each muscle. Results Muscle activity (in percentage MVIC) was determined to be higher for both the muscles during BW. Activity of MF muscle was significantly higher in CLBP patients compared with healthy controls (P < .04). Electromyographic activity of MF and ES was significantly increased during BW (MF: P < .001; ES: P < .001) compared with FW in both healthy and CLBP groups. Conclusion BW leads to greater activation of the paraspinal muscles. Along with global extensor (ES), activity of core extensor (MF) is also higher during BW than FW in both healthy participants and CLBP patients. BW is a more favorable aerobic activity to enhance lumbar paraspinal recruitment. These findings may have important clinical implications in the rehabilitation of CLBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Ansari
- Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India
| | - Pooja Bhati
- Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India
| | - Deepika Singla
- Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India
| | - Nabeela Nazish
- Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India
| | - Mohammad Ejaz Hussain
- Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University), New Delhi, India
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McCrum C, Karamanidis K, Willems P, Zijlstra W, Meijer K. Retention, savings and interlimb transfer of reactive gait adaptations in humans following unexpected perturbations. Commun Biol 2018; 1:230. [PMID: 30564751 PMCID: PMC6294781 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0238-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive locomotor adaptations are crucial for safe mobility, but remain relatively unexplored. Here we assess reactive gait adaptations, and their retention, savings and interlimb transfer. Using new methods to normalise walking speed and perturbation magnitude, we expose eighteen healthy adults to ten unexpected treadmill belt accelerations during walking (the first and last perturbing the right leg, the others perturbing the left leg) on two days, one month apart. Analysis of the margins of stability using kinematic data reveals that humans reactively adapt gait, improving stability and taking fewer recovery steps, and fully retain these adaptations over time. On re-exposure, retention and savings lead to further improvements in stability. Currently, the role of interlimb transfer is unclear. Our findings show that humans utilise retention and savings in reactive gait adaptations to benefit stability, but that interlimb transfer may not be exclusively responsible for improvements following perturbations to the untrained limb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher McCrum
- 1Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD The Netherlands.,2Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, Cologne, 50933 Germany
| | - Kiros Karamanidis
- 3Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA UK
| | - Paul Willems
- 1Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD The Netherlands
| | - Wiebren Zijlstra
- 2Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, Cologne, 50933 Germany
| | - Kenneth Meijer
- 1Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD The Netherlands
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8
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Marigold DS, Chang AJ, Lajoie K. Cutaneous reflex modulation during obstacle avoidance under conditions of normal and degraded visual input. Exp Brain Res 2017; 235:2483-2493. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-017-4976-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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9
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Suzuki S, Nakajima T, Futatsubashi G, Mezzarane RA, Ohtsuka H, Ohki Y, Zehr EP, Komiyama T. Soleus Hoffmann reflex amplitudes are specifically modulated by cutaneous inputs from the arms and opposite leg during walking but not standing. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:2293-304. [PMID: 27030502 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4635-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of cutaneous nerves innervating heteronymous limbs (the arms or contralateral leg) modifies the excitability of soleus Hoffmann (H-) reflexes. The differences in the sensitivities of the H-reflex pathway to cutaneous afferents from different limbs and their modulation during the performance of motor tasks (i.e., standing and walking) are not fully understood. In the present study, we investigated changes in soleus H-reflex amplitudes induced by electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves. Selected targets for conditioning stimulation included the superficial peroneal nerve, which innervates the foot dorsum in the contralateral ankle (cSP), and the superficial radial nerve, which innervates the dorsum of the hand in the ipsilateral (iSR) or contralateral wrist (cSR). Stimulation and subsequent reflex assessment took place during the standing and early-stance phase of treadmill walking in ten healthy subjects. Cutaneous stimulation produced long-latency inhibition (conditioning-test interval of ~100 ms) of the H-reflex during the early-stance phase of walking, and the inhibition was stronger following cSP stimulation compared with iSR or cSR stimulation. In contrast, although similar conditioning stimulation significantly facilitated the H-reflex during standing, this effect remained constant irrespective of the different conditioning sites. These findings suggest that cutaneous inputs from the arms and contralateral leg had reversible effects on the H-reflex amplitudes, including inhibitions with different sensitivities during the early-stance phase of walking and facilitation during standing. Furthermore, the differential sensitivities of the H-reflex modulations were expressed only during walking when the locations of the afferent inputs were functionally relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinya Suzuki
- Division of Health and Sports Education, The United Graduate School of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan. .,Department of Integrative Physiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan.
| | - Tsuyoshi Nakajima
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan
| | - Genki Futatsubashi
- Division of Health and Sports Education, The United Graduate School of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan.,Faculty of Business and Information Sciences, Jobu University, Isesaki, Gunma, Japan
| | - Rinaldo A Mezzarane
- Laboratory of Signal Processing and Motor Control, College of Physical Education, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.,Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, EPUSP, PTC, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Division of Health and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Ohtsuka
- Department of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yukari Ohki
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan
| | - E Paul Zehr
- Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.,Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tomoyoshi Komiyama
- Division of Health and Sports Education, The United Graduate School of Education, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Health and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Education, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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10
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Bui TV, Stifani N, Panek I, Farah C. Genetically identified spinal interneurons integrating tactile afferents for motor control. J Neurophysiol 2015; 114:3050-63. [PMID: 26445867 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00522.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Our movements are shaped by our perception of the world as communicated by our senses. Perception of sensory information has been largely attributed to cortical activity. However, a prior level of sensory processing occurs in the spinal cord. Indeed, sensory inputs directly project to many spinal circuits, some of which communicate with motor circuits within the spinal cord. Therefore, the processing of sensory information for the purpose of ensuring proper movements is distributed between spinal and supraspinal circuits. The mechanisms underlying the integration of sensory information for motor control at the level of the spinal cord have yet to be fully described. Recent research has led to the characterization of spinal neuron populations that share common molecular identities. Identification of molecular markers that define specific populations of spinal neurons is a prerequisite to the application of genetic techniques devised to both delineate the function of these spinal neurons and their connectivity. This strategy has been used in the study of spinal neurons that receive tactile inputs from sensory neurons innervating the skin. As a result, the circuits that include these spinal neurons have been revealed to play important roles in specific aspects of motor function. We describe these genetically identified spinal neurons that integrate tactile information and the contribution of these studies to our understanding of how tactile information shapes motor output. Furthermore, we describe future opportunities that these circuits present for shedding light on the neural mechanisms of tactile processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuan V Bui
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Center for Neural Dynamics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Nicolas Stifani
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Izabela Panek
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Carl Farah
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Mehdizadeh S, Arshi AR, Davids K. Quantifying coordination and coordination variability in backward versus forward running: Implications for control of motion. Gait Posture 2015; 42:172-7. [PMID: 26021460 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2015.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 05/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to compare coordination and coordination variability in backward and forward running and to investigate the effects of speed on coordination variability in both backward and forward running. Fifteen healthy male participants took part in this study to run forwards and backwards on a treadmill at 80%, 100% and 120% of their preferred running speeds. The coordinate data of passive reflective markers attached to body segments were recorded using motion capture systems. Coordination of shank-foot and thigh-shank couplings in sagittal plane was quantified using the continuous relative phase method. Coordination variability was calculated as the standard deviation of a coordination pattern over 50 strides. Cross-correlation coefficients and associated phase shifts were determined to quantify similarity in coordination patterns between forward and backward running. Our results demonstrated that the coordination pattern in a gait cycle of backward running was in reverse to that of forward running at all speeds implying that the same neural circuitry is responsible for regulating both forward and backward running gaits. In addition, results demonstrated that there was an average of approximately 11% phase shift between the coordination patterns of backward and forward running which indicates that a single underlying mechanism might be responsible for generating motor patterns in both forward and backward running. Finally, backward running had significantly higher magnitude of coordination variability compared to forward running, signifying that more degrees of freedom were involved in backward running. Speed however, did not affect coordination variability in either task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Mehdizadeh
- Biomechanics and Sports Engineering Groups, Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Hafez Ave. , Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ahmed Reza Arshi
- Biomechanics and Sports Engineering Groups, Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Hafez Ave. , Tehran, Iran.
| | - Keith Davids
- Centre for Sports Engineering Research, Sheffield Hallam University, UK; FiDiPro Programme, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
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12
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Hoogkamer W, Bruijn SM, Sunaert S, Swinnen SP, Van Calenbergh F, Duysens J. Toward new sensitive measures to evaluate gait stability in focal cerebellar lesion patients. Gait Posture 2015; 41:592-6. [PMID: 25618477 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2015.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The evident ataxic characteristics of gait in patients with cerebellar damage suggest that the cerebellum plays an important role in the neural control of gait. Ataxic features, such as increased gait variability and increased step width, are often related to gait stability. However, the link between these measures and gait stability is not straightforward. Therefore, to gain more insights into relations between gait stability, gait variability and gait ataxia, we quantified gait stability using the short-term maximum Lyapunov exponent. This is a more valid measure of gait stability, derived from dynamical systems theory. Eighteen patients with focal cerebellar lesions after tumor resection walked on an instrumented treadmill at 1.0m/s for 3min. The patients displayed relatively mild functional deficits (ICARS=6.9±6.4, range 0-20) and had a lower overground walking speed as compared to healthy controls (1.12m/s versus 1.31m/s). During treadmill walking, the short-term maximum Lyapunov exponent was higher in cerebellar patients, indicating reduced gait stability. Furthermore, step width was increased in the patient group while other spatio-temporal gait parameters were similar. Patients with the largest lesions in the vermis displayed the least stable gait pattern. These observations imply that the short-term maximum Lyapunov exponent is a sensitive measure of gait deficits in mildly ataxic cerebellar patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Hoogkamer
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Sjoerd M Bruijn
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, PR China; MOVE Research Institute, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium; Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Jacques Duysens
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Belgium; Department of Research, Development & Education, St. Maartenskliniek Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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13
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Hoogkamer W, Van Calenbergh F, Swinnen SP, Duysens J. Cutaneous reflex modulation and self-induced reflex attenuation in cerebellar patients. J Neurophysiol 2014; 113:915-24. [PMID: 25392164 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00381.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation of cutaneous reflexes is important in the neural control of walking, yet knowledge about underlying neural pathways is still incomplete. Recent studies have suggested that the cerebellum is involved. Here we evaluated the possible roles of the cerebellum in cutaneous reflex modulation and in attenuation of self-induced reflexes. First we checked whether leg muscle activity during walking was similar in patients with focal cerebellar lesions and in healthy control subjects. We then recorded cutaneous reflex activity in leg muscles during walking. Additionally, we compared reflexes after standard (computer triggered) stimuli with reflexes after self-induced stimuli for both groups. Biceps femoris and gastrocnemius medialis muscle activity was increased in the patient group compared with the control subjects, suggesting a coactivation strategy to reduce instability of gait. Cutaneous reflex modulation was similar between healthy control subjects and cerebellar patients, but the latter appeared less able to attenuate reflexes to self-induced stimuli. This suggests that the cerebellum is not primarily involved in cutaneous reflex modulation but that it could act in attenuation of self-induced reflex responses. The latter role in locomotion would be consistent with the common view that the cerebellum predicts sensory consequences of movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Hoogkamer
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium;
| | - Frank Van Calenbergh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; and
| | - Stephan P Swinnen
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jacques Duysens
- Movement Control and Neuroplasticity Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Research, Development, and Education, St. Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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14
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Zhang X, Zhang Y, Gao X, Wu J, Jiao X, Zhao J, Lv X. Investigating the role of backward walking therapy in alleviating plantar pressure of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2014; 95:832-9. [PMID: 24445089 DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of combination therapy of backward walking training and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) treatment on the distribution of plantar pressure in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). DESIGN This study is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The test group was treated with combination therapy of backward walking exercise and ALA (ALA for 2wk, backward walking exercise for 12wk), and the control group only received ALA treatment. SETTING Clinical and laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS Patients with DPN (N=60) were divided into the test group (n=30) or control group (n=30). INTERVENTIONS Backward walking exercise with ALA treatment for the test group; lipoic acid treatment for the control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Plantar pressure before and after treatment was tested and analyzed with the flatbed plantar pressure measurement system. RESULTS After treatment, peak plantar pressure in the forefoot dropped for both the test and control groups; peak plantar pressure for the test group dropped significantly. Peak plantar pressure in the medial foot slightly increased for the test group, suggesting a more even distribution of plantar pressure in the test group after treatment. CONCLUSIONS The combination therapy of ALA and backward walking proved to be more effective than ALA monotherapy. Backward walking also proved to have an ameliorating effect on balance ability and muscle strength of patients with DPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingguang Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanqi Zhang
- China National Institute of Standardization, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Gao
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxiao Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiumin Jiao
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Lv
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Military General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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Koenraadt KLM, Roelofsen EGJ, Duysens J, Keijsers NLW. Cortical control of normal gait and precision stepping: An fNIRS study. Neuroimage 2014; 85 Pt 1:415-22. [PMID: 23631980 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.04.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Koen L M Koenraadt
- Sint Maartenskliniek Nijmegen, Department of Research, PO box 9011, 6500 GM Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Ruff CR, Miller AB, Delva ML, Lajoie K, Marigold DS. Modification of cutaneous reflexes during visually guided walking. J Neurophysiol 2013; 111:379-93. [PMID: 24155011 DOI: 10.1152/jn.01076.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it has become apparent that cutaneous reflexes can be adjusted based on the phase and context of the locomotor task, it is not clear to what extent these reflexes are regulated when locomotion is modified under visual guidance. To address this, we compared the amplitude of cutaneous reflexes while subjects performed walking tasks that required precise foot placement. In one experiment, subjects walked overground and across a horizontal ladder with narrow raised rungs. In another experiment, subjects walked and stepped onto a series of flat targets, which required different levels of precision (large vs. narrow targets). The superficial peroneal or tibial nerve was electrically stimulated in multiple phases of the gait cycle in each condition and experiment. Reflexes between 50 and 120 ms poststimulation were sorted into 10 equal phase bins, and the amplitudes were then averaged. In each experiment, differences in cutaneous reflexes between conditions occurred predominantly during swing phase when preparation for precise foot placement was necessary. For instance, large excitatory cutaneous reflexes in ipsilateral tibialis anterior were present in the ladder condition and when stepping on narrow targets compared with inhibitory responses in the other conditions, regardless of the nerve stimulated. In the ladder experiments, additional effects of walking condition were evident during stance phase when subjects had to balance on the narrow ladder rungs and may be related to threat and/or the unstable foot-surface interaction. Taken together, these results suggest that cutaneous reflexes are modified when visual feedback regarding the terrain is critical for successful walking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey R Ruff
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Behrendt F, Wagner H, de Lussanet MH. Phase-dependent reflex modulation in tibialis anterior during passive viewing of walking. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2013; 142:343-8. [PMID: 23422287 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2012] [Revised: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that reflexes are highly adaptive, as they depend both on our intention and on the active state of the muscles. Reflex gains change dynamically during actions such as walking and running, with the gain of cutaneous reflexes being increased at the end of the stance phase but decreased at the end of the swing phase in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. Reflex gains can even change during the mere observation of an action. The mechanisms and functions of such modulations are unclear. It has been suggested that the changed reflex gains prevent the actual performance of actions that we see. However, the modulation of reflexes in response to seeing an action has never been reproduced for the active execution of such actions. In the present study, medium-latency cutaneous reflexes from the TA muscle, of which the activity and reflexes during walking are well known, were measured in human subjects. The results show that the gain changes of the medium-latency responses of the TA are the same as during active walking. We conclude that reflexes do not represent an inhibitory mechanism that prevents motor output during action observation. Instead, our findings provide evidence that even the peripheral spinal motor system is actively involved in the motor resonance processes, without evoking any measurable motor responses.
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