Abstract
Prior researchers have observed the effect of simulated reduced-gravity exercise. However, the extent to which lower-body positive-pressure treadmill (LBPPT) walking alters kinematic gait characteristics is not well understood. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of LBPPT walking on selected gait parameters in simulated reduced-gravity conditions. Twenty-nine college-aged volunteers participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants wore pressure-measuring insoles (Medilogic GmBH, Schönefeld, Germany) and completed three 3.5-min walking trials on the LBPPT (AlterG, Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) at 100% (normal gravity) as well as reduced-gravity conditions of 40% and 20% body weight (BW). The resulting insole data were analyzed to calculate center of pressure (COP) variables: COP path length and width and stance time. The results showed that 100% BW condition was significantly different from both the 40% and 20% BW conditions, p < 0.05. There were no significant differences observed between the 40% and 20% BW conditions for COP path length and width. Conversely, stance time significantly differed between the 40% and 20% BW conditions. The findings of this study may prove beneficial for clinicians as they develop rehabilitation strategies to effectively unload the individual’s body weight to perform safe exercises.
Highlights
A more recently developed method to provide partial body weight support during exercise is the use of a lower-body positive-pressure treadmill (LBPPT), which contains the lower body in an air-tight, increasingly pressurized air chamber to provide a lift force that effectively reduces musculoskeletal loading, i.e., body weight loading
Post hoc tests using the Bonferroni correction revealed that the 100% body weight (BW) condition was significantly greater than both the 40% and 20% BW conditions (p < 0.05)
We found that the effect of lower-body positive-pressure treadmill (LBPPT) walking, an increase in body weight support, or a reduction in gravity from 100% to 40% and 20% body weight (BW), is mainly characterized by a significant decrease in center of pressure (COP) anterior–posterior segment length and simultaneous significant increase in COP medial–lateral segment width
Summary
The most common methods include the use of water immersion systems, referred to as water or pool therapy, and harness suspension treadmill systems. Water immersion rehabilitation programs (pool therapy) incorporate movement when the body is partially submerged in water. A decrease in compressive forces on the musculoskeletal system due to the presence of buoyant forces acting in opposition to the body submerged in water is observed [3,4]. Another approach to unload partial body weight is to use a harness suspension treadmill system to vertically lift the individual partially off the ground [5]. LBPPT exercise allows individuals and patients to perform safe aerobic exercises such as walking and running [2,4]
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