The immediate effect of treadmill walking on step variability in boys with a history of severe traumatic brain injury and typically-developed controls

Abstract

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.