Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the immediate effect of treadmill walking (i.e. enforced
walking at a fixed gait velocity) on gait variability among children post-severe
traumatic brain injury (TBI) and typically-developing (TD) age-matched controls.
METHODS: Twelve boys post-severe TBI and 18 TD boys participated in this study.
Ages were 7-13 years. Step time and length variability were assessed by an
electronic walkway prior to and after treadmill walking for 6 minutes. RESULTS:
Significantly reduced walking velocity and step length, with significantly
increased step length variability were noted among children post-TBI compared to
the TD subjects when walking on level ground prior to the treadmill. Treadmill
walking reduced step length variability in TD children, while there was a slight
increase in variability in children post-TBI (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Walking on a
treadmill at a fixed gait velocity has a different effect on boys post-severe TBI
and TD controls.

Langue : ANGLAIS