Article

The extent to which therapeutic, exercise or robotic devices can maximize gait
function is a major unresolved issue in neurorehabilitation. Several factors may
influence gait outcomes such as similarity of the task to overground walking,
degree of coordination within and across limbs, and cycle-to-cycle variability in
each device. Our objective was to compare lower extremity kinematics,
coordination and variability during four locomotor tasks: overground walking,
treadmill walking, elliptical training and stationary cycling in 10 non-disabled
adults (6 male; mean age 22.7+/-2.9 yrs, range 20-29). All first performed four
overground walking trials at self-selected speed with mean temporal-spatial data
used to pace the other conditions. Joint positions, excursions, and the Gait
Deviation Index (GDI) were compared across conditions to evaluate kinematic
similarity. Time-series data were correlated within and across limbs to evaluate
intralimb and interlimb coordination, respectively. Variability in cadence was
quantified to assess how constrained the locomotor rhythm was compared to
overground walking. Treadmill walking most closely resembled overground with GDI
values nearly overlapping, reinforcing its appropriateness for gait training.
Cycling showed the largest GDI difference from overground, with elliptical closer
but still a significant distance from all three. Cycling showed greater hip
reciprocation Cycling and elliptical showed stronger intralimb synergism at the
hip and knee than the other two. Based on kinematics, results suggest that
elliptical training may have greater transfer to overground walking than cycling
and cycling may be more useful for enhancing reciprocal coordination. Further
evaluation of these devices in neurological gait disorders is needed.
CI - Published by Elsevier B.V.

Langue : ANGLAIS