Article

Reduced gait speed is common following traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Several studies have found that people with TBI display increased lateral
movement in their center of mass while walking. It has been hypothesized that
reduced gait speed following TBI is a consequence of increased caution and
postural instability, but reduced ankle power generation at push-off may also
play a contributing role. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether postural instability or
reduced muscle power were associated with reduced gait speed following TBI.
METHODS: A convenience sample of 55 people with TBI receiving physiotherapy for
gait disorders were assessed using 3D gait analysis at self-selected and fast
walking speeds. A comparison group of 10 healthy controls performed walking
trials at a speed matched to the mean TBI self-selected speed and at a fast
walking speed. RESULTS: When matched for speed, people with TBI walked with
similar cadence and step length but with reduced ankle power generation at
push-off and increased hip power generation both in early stance and in preswing
compared with healthy controls. Width of base of support and postural instability
were also significantly increased for people with TBI. The differences between
the 2 groups at the matched speed remained for the fast speed condition. Postural
stability did not deteriorate with increasing gait speed in either group.
CONCLUSION: Reduced gait speed following TBI appears to be attributable to
biomechanical deficiencies such as reduced ankle power generation rather than
reduced postural stability and increased caution.

Langue : ANGLAIS