Article

OBJECTIVE: To assess plantarflexion moment and hip joint moment after-effects
following walking on a split-belt treadmill in healthy individuals and
individuals post-stroke. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Ten healthy
individuals (mean age 57.6 years (standard deviation; SD 17.2)) and twenty
individuals post-stroke (mean age 49.3 years (SD 13.2)). METHODS: Participants
walked on an instrumented split-belt treadmill under 3 gait periods: i) baseline
(tied-belt); ii) adaptation (split-belt); and iii) post-adaptation (tied-belt).
Participants post-stroke performed the protocol with the paretic and nonparetic
leg on the faster belt when belts were split. Kinematic data were recorded with
the Optotrak system and ground reaction forces were collected via the
instrumented split-belt treadmill. RESULTS: In both groups, the fast
plantarflexion moment was reduced and the slow plantarflexion moment was
increased from mid-stance to toe-off in the post-adaptation period. Significant
relationships were found between the plantarflexion moment and contralateral step
length. CONCLUSION: Split-belt treadmills could be useful for restoring step
length symmetry in individuals post-stroke who present with a longer paretic step
length because the use of this type of intervention increases paretic
plantarflexion moments. This intervention might be less recommended for
individuals post-stroke with a shorter paretic step length because it reduces the
paretic plantarflexion moment.

Langue : ANGLAIS