Oh GB, Park CS, Cho KH. Immediate effect of weight load on lower limb muscle activity and gait ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury during walker gait training.
J Spinal Cord Med 2023;
46:818-824. [PMID:
35792819 PMCID:
PMC10446802 DOI:
10.1080/10790268.2022.2088502]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Walkers are actively used to improve gait ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). This study aimed to investigate the immediate effect of weight load during walker gait training on lower limb muscle activity and gait ability in patients with ISCI using a dependence feedback walker (DFW).
DESIGN
A single group cross-sectional design.
SETTING
Local rehabilitation hospital.
PARTICIPANTS
Fourteen patients with ISCI (62.00 years, Onset duration: 20.57months).
INTERVENTIONS
The DFW was used to measure the change in lower limb muscle activity and gait ability on walker dependence during the 20-meter walk. Based on the initial measurement of walker dependence, three levels of walker dependence threshold were set (100%, 60%, and 20%). If the weight loaded on the walker exceeded the three threshold levels of walker dependence, auditory and visual feedback was generated.
OUTCOME MEASURES
During the 20-meter walk, changes in both lower limb muscle activity (rectus femoris, biceps femoris, medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and gluteus medius) and gait ability (velocity, cadence, and single-limb support phase) were measured by surface electromyography and 3-axis accelerometer.
RESULTS
The increase in lower limb muscle activation and improvement of gait ability were greater during 20% walker dependence gait training than during 100% walker dependence gait training (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Reduction of walker dependence by extrinsic feedback generated via DFW during walker gait training may lead to increased lower limb muscle activity and improved gait. These results could be useful for successful self-gait training and improving walking independence in patients with ISCI.
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