Article

Mediolateral (ML) foot placement is an effective way to redirect the lateral
trajectory of the body center of mass (BCoM) during ambulation, but has only been
partly characterized in the chronic post-stroke population despite their
increased risk for falling [1]. During able-bodied gait, the locomotor system
coordinates lower limb swing phase kinematics such that an appropriate ML foot
placement occurs upon foot contact. Muscle weakness and abnormal motor patterns
may impair foot placement ability post-stroke. The purpose of this study was to
characterize ML foot placement ability during post-stroke ambulation by
quantifying ML foot placement accuracy and precision, for the both sound and
affected feet. Age matched able-bodied individuals were recruited for comparison.
All participants were instructed to target step widths ranging from 0 to 45% leg
length, as marked on the laboratory floor. Results of this study confirmed that
ML foot placement accuracy and precision were significantly lower for the
post-stroke group as compared to the control group (p=0.0). However, ML foot
placement accuracy and precision were not significantly different between the
affected and sound limbs in the post-stroke group. The lowest accuracy for
post-stroke subjects was observed at both extreme step width targets (0 and 45%).
Future work should explore potential mechanisms underlying these findings such as
abnormal motor coordination, lower limb muscle strength, and abnormal swing phase
movement patterns.
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Langue : ANGLAIS