This study investigated the effects of providing body weight support (BWS) on the gait pattern of 15 incomplete spinal cord lesioned subjects. Electromyographic (EMG), joint angular displacement and temporal distance parameters were simultaneously recorded as subjects walked on a treadmill while 0% and 40% of their body weight was mechanically supported by an overhead harness. The effects of 0% and 40% BWS while walking with and without parallel bars and at different treadmill speeds was further investigated in a subgroup of 8 subjects. / In general, 40% BWS led to a decrease in prolonged EMG activity of proximal muscles, a decrease in premature activation of distal muscles as well as a decrease in clonus. Such changes in EMG activity were evident especially during more demanding external conditions such as walking without parallel bars or at faster treadmill speeds. A general decrease in EMG mean burst amplitude for lower limb muscles was also noted. Sagittal angular displacement profiles revealed a straighter trunk and knee alignment during initial and midstance. Forty percent BWS appeared to facilitate gait by allowing subjects to walk for longer periods and to walk at faster treadmill speeds. Increases in stride length, single limb support time and decreases in total double support time were also noted with 40% BWS at comparable treadmill speeds. The results this study suggest that BWS facilitates the expression of a more normal gait pattern.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.59238 |
| Date | January 1989 |
| Creators | Visintin, Martha |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Science (School of Physical and Occupational Therapy.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001069305, proquestno: AAIMM63412, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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