Affect Walking Speed Research Articles

Effectiveness of Bobath Technique on Walking Speed and Balance in Hemiplegic Patients: A Review

Worldwide, stroke is the largest cause of disability, affecting walking speed and balance, especially in hemiplegics. Bobath, or Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT), is a specialist physiotherapy method that improves motor control and movement patterns for motor deficits. Given the prevalence of stroke and the importance of rehabilitation in recovery, the Bobath technique's ability to improve walking speed and balance, which are crucial to stroke survivors' functional independence, must be assessed. Methods: This Review examined how the Bobath method affected walking speed and balance in hemiplegic individuals. A total of 15 studies were evaluated. Most of studies uses 2 groups The Bobath group received three-times-weekly motor function and balance training for 12 weeks Data was collected at Baseline, 6-week, and 12-week. Aim: This research focused on to review whether the Bobath approach improved walking speed and balance in hemiplegic patients. Results: The research revealed a substantial improvement in walking speed using the Bobath approach, with a mean increase of 0.25 meters per second compared to 0.10 meters per second in the control group (p < 0.05). Significant balance improvements were seen in the Bobath group, with a mean gain of 10 points on the Berg Balance Scale and 5 cm on the Functional Reach Test, compared to 4 points and 2 centimetres in the control group (p < 0.05). The Bobath approach improved walking speed and balance no more than traditional physiotherapy. Conclusion: This research found that Bobath improves walking speed and balance in hemiplegics no more than traditional physiotherapy. These findings suggest that stroke therapy programs using the Bobath technique may improve functional outcomes. To validate these results and investigate the Bobath technique's long-term stroke healing advantages, bigger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are needed. Keyword: - Bobath concept, stroke, hemiplegia, rehabilitation.

Gait speed in older adults: exploring the impact of functional, physical and social factors

Purpose: With age there is a neuromuscular and cognitive decline that impacts on functional ability. One of the most characteristic and easily recognisable signs of this decline is a decrease in usual gait speed. For older adults, gait speed is a non-invasive indicator of health and functional status and is regarded as a vital sign. As it predicts various conditions later in life, measuring usual walking speed is crucial in the clinical setting. Therefore, analysing and determining the association between walking speed and the impact of functional and socio-economic variables may facilitate the prevention of associated health problems and the maintenance of physical function in older adults. This study aims to identify the key factors that influence walking speed in older adults, as well as to examine the influence of socio-economic status on walking speed. Methods: A total of 1253 older adults (89.5% women) with a mean age of 78.1 ± 5.8 voluntarily participated in this descriptive cross-sectional study, which examines the results of functional capacity tests and socioeconomic data in older adults. To assess physical function, SPPB tests (chair stand test, balance tests, gait speed test), manual grip strength, muscle quality index, and power were conducted, in addition to measuring body composition and socioeconomic status. Results: The final regression model showed that gait speed was significantly partially explained (R2=0.35; p<0.01) by the socioeconomic environment, age, balance, and relative power. At the same time, belonging to a higher socio-economic environment is linked to lower relative power (p<0.01; η2=0.07). Conclusions: Exploring the factors that affect walking speed in older adults, this study highlights that age, relative power and balance are significant determinants. These clinical markers provide crucial information for designing personalized and effective interventions to promote healthy aging. Keywords: Frailty, gait speed, elderly, relative power, socioeconomic status.

Can Popular Word Search Puzzles Affect Walking Speed in Older Adults?

We examined whether supraliminal word stimuli can affect walking speed of older adults in laboratory settings. The 78 physically active subjects (age >65 years) were randomly assigned to prime and control conditions. All subjects walked 19 m measured distance pre- and post-completing a word search puzzle containing either words associated with early adulthood or neutral ones. Although participants in the prime group went faster in the posttest, the ANOVA did not reveal significant interaction between the subjects’ conditions and walking speed. No significant priming effect of exposure to words on walking speed in older adults was detected in the current study. There is a need for further research, as there is a lack of data in this age cohort. The priming effect could possibly be used to increase the physical activity of seniors and may bias the clinical outputs in gait tests.

Barriers to Enrollment in a Post-Stroke Neuromodulation and Walking Study: Implications for Recruiting Women

Background Women have a higher risk of stroke and related disability than men but are underrepresented in stroke clinical trials. Identifying modifiable recruitment and enrollment barriers for women can improve study generalizability, statistical power, and resource utilization. Objective In a post-stroke neuromodulation study, we determined the impact of sex on the occurrence of exclusion criteria and compared the sex distribution of screened and enrolled individuals with a broader stroke-affected population. Methods A total of 335 individuals with chronic stroke were screened for a study examining how neuromodulation and high-intensity treadmill training affect walking speed and corticomotor excitability. Demographics and exclusions were retrospectively gathered as a secondary dataset. Exclusion criteria consisted of 6 categories (not target population, unable to do treadmill protocol, unable to do non-invasive brain stimulation, insufficient ankle motion and disinterest, and cognitive impairment). Incidence of each exclusion criterion was compared between women and men. The sex distribution was compared to a dataset from Chicago primary stroke centers. Results A total of 81 individuals were enrolled and 254 were not. The percentage of women excluded was significantly greater than that of men (P = .04). No individual exclusion criterion or categories excluded women more frequently than men. Screened and enrolled individuals had a lower proportion of women and younger age than a representative stroke population (P < .001). Conclusions We identified exclusion criteria (ie, headaches, cognitive scores, and age) that are modifiable barriers to enrollment of women in this post-stroke neuromodulation study. Addressing underrepresentation of women in stroke research is pivotal for enhancing generalizability, achieving statistical power, and optimizing resources.

The Influence of Pedestrian Characteristic on Pedestrian Speed in Urban Area: A Case Study at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur

Short-distance walking, alone or with additional modes, is efficient. Well-established public transport may increase the number of pedestrians since they prefer walking to work, travel, and shop because cities are connected by activities and locations. However, pedestrian-friendly paths and public transport in Malaysia have received little attention. Large-scale facilities like stadiums, movie theatres, and amusement parks are driving the need for pedestrian facilities. Thus, this study aims to examines the pedestrian characteristic at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur. To discover significant elements, pedestrian behaviour on sidewalks at the indicated location was quantitatively investigated, taking into account general pedestrian characteristics that affect walking speed, such as age, gender, and trip companion. Using a video camera, pedestrian variables like age, gender, and trip companion were calculated for volume, speed, flow, density, and space during weekday and weekend peak hours. Extracted data were then analysed by using SPSS as a statistical software and the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2010) was used to classify pedestrian level of services (LOS). Age, gender, and companionship substantially determine the pedestrian flow and the study’s LOS for pedestrian characteristics ranges from D to E, indicating that Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman’s sidewalk relationship varies. This research strongly recommends a dedicated walkway to increase pedestrian space and improve services along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur. This study will also serve as a guideline to the transport operator into improving the future of pedestrian walkway design facilities.

Palmitoylethanolamide Modulates Gait By Targeting Purkinje Cells in the Brain of Sickle Mice

Chronic pain is a major comorbidity of sickle cell disease (SCD). Transgenic humanized (BERK) sickle mice recapitulate many clinical features of SCD, including chronic pain. Motor impairments concomitant with increased pyknotic cerebellar Purkinje cells occur in BERK sickle mice. Neurological, neuropathic, and immunological factors, including Purkinje cell damage and chronic inflammation, may contribute to peripheral and central mechanisms that drive gait dysfunction. Pathological changes in Purkinje cells of sickle mice include a significantly greater number of pyknotic cells with smudged nuclei, condensed chromatin, and lack of well-formed nucleoli, &amp; may contribute to alterations in gait as Purkinje cells regulate sensory-motor functions. Subjects with SCD often use cannabinoids for pain relief, but the intoxicating effects and social stigma associated with their use represent barriers to utilizing this treatment. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a non-intoxicating endocannabinoid-like lipid mediator naturally produced throughout the body that may act via indirect cannabinoid receptor activation. In clinical studies associated with movement and pain, including chronic arthritic and multiple sclerosis, PEA has demonstrated a reduction of motor dysfunction and pain. Therefore, we examined the effect of PEA on hyperalgesia and gait in humanized HbSS-BERK sickle (HbSS) mice. We utilized ~6-month-old female, HbSS mice, expressing &amp;gt;99% human α- and ßS- sickle hemoglobin and complete knockout of murine α- and β-globins. Mice were treated with PEA (ip, 20 mg/kg/d) or vehicle (7.5% DMSO, 7.5% Tween 20, in sterile saline) for 2 weeks (2-wks). Gait measurements were gathered for each mouse at baseline (BL) and 2-wks post treatment during normal walking in MouseWalker's transparent corridor with a floor panel mounted with LED lights to produce a detectable touch sensor. Physical contact of paw pads with the surface during natural walking disrupts the light path, causing frustrated total internal reflection detected by a high-speed camera and analyzed using artificial intelligence-based algorithms for gait parameters. Mechanical hyperalgesia was analyzed as paw withdrawal frequency (PWF) in response to 10 applications of 1.0 g von Frey monofilaments. Complete blood counts and brain histopathology on hematoxylin- and eosin-stained sections were evaluated after 2-wks post-treatment. We observed that PEA ameliorates features of dysfunctional gait in HbSS mice. PEA-treated mice show increased limb swing speed (~30%, P&amp;lt;0.01) and shortened swing duration (20%, P&amp;lt;0.05) without affecting walking speed (P &amp;gt;0.05) Vs. vehicle-treated mice. Also, PEA significantly reduced body instability (~75%, P&amp;lt;0.05) and improved stance duration (~65%, P&amp;lt;0.05) Vs. BL. This suggests improved limb coordination and reduced sensitivity to mechanical forces during walking. Complementary to gait changes, PEA significantly decreased mechanical hyperalgesia, indicated by lower PWF, 1-hour following initial treatment and following 2-wks post-treatment (~55%, P&amp;lt; 0.001 and ~65%, P&amp;lt; 0.001, respectively) Vs. BL. PEA decreased the number of circulating white blood cells (P&amp;lt; 0.05), with the greatest reduction in circulating lymphocytes (P&amp;lt; 0.1). PEA had no adverse effects on organ weight Vs. vehicle treatment. PEA-treated mice showed a significant reduction in pyknotic cerebellar Purkinje cells (~23.9% p&amp;lt;.006) in the brain Vs. vehicle. Thus, Purkinje cell pathology may contribute to impaired gait, and PEA may improve motor coordination by reducing Purkinje cell damage. We provide the first evidence that PEA administration in a humanized sickle mouse model improves features of gait, restores Purkinje cell morphology, and reduces inflammation. Our data demonstrate that PEA may have a disease-modifying effect and restoration of sensory-motor function in SCD. Impairment in gait may also be due to avascular necrosis. Therefore gait measurements may provide a non-invasive analysis of movement associated pathology and pain as well as effectiveness of targeted interventions.

Do gait stability and arm swing affect walking speed during the 6-minute walk test in persons with Multiple Sclerosis?

Do gait stability and arm swing affect walking speed during the 6-minute walk test in persons with Multiple Sclerosis?

Analysis of Factors Affecting Walking Speed Based on Natural Field Data: Considering the Attributes of Travelers and the Travel Environment

In Mobility as a Service (MaaS), walking plays a crucial role in connecting various modes of transportation. In order to provide more accurate predictions of walking travel time, a comprehensive and in-depth study is required to examine the factors that influence walking speed. Many existing studies focus on exploring various factors affecting walking speed, but there is limited research on further investigating the magnitude of their impact and the reasons for differences among different pedestrians. This study examines the relationship between personal characteristics and the degree of influence of environmental factors on walking speed. We recruited 31 volunteers and investigated their traveler characteristics such as height, weight, and age, as well as environmental factors such as weather conditions, ground conditions, and sidewalk Level of Service (LOS). Descriptive statistics were performed on walking speed, revealing the influence of these factors. For example, the speed of females is 89% of that of males. When in a hurry, the speed increases by 17%, while on uneven roads, the speed decreases by 11%. We then proposed the influence coefficient f to represent the degree of influence and analyzed its correlation with personal characteristics. We discovered some strong correlations. For instance, the greater the body weight, the more significant the reduction in walking speed due to precipitous weather or uneven roads. Similarly, the taller the person, the greater the increase in walking speed under the influence of a rushed situation. Finally, we constructed a series of regression models for “f” and a speed estimation model. Our findings provide support for predicting personalized speeds in various scenarios, based solely on the traveler’s personal characteristics and speeds in controlled group scenarios in the travel service system, and contribute to the study and development of MaaS in terms of travel time prediction, travel route planning, and personalized services.

Influence of caste and subcaste characteristics on locomotion in the ant Camponotus fellah.

Worker polymorphism in ants has evolved repeatedly, with considerable differences in the morphometry of worker subcastes. Such body size differences and especially caste- and subcaste-specific characteristics might significantly influence locomotion. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive locomotion analysis along gradients in both body size and walking speed of Camponotus fellah worker subcastes, and of males, which have rarely been studied to date because of their short life spans associated with mating flights. We provide a detailed description of the morphometry and size differences of C. fellah castes and subcastes and analyse locomotion in the different polymorphic groups in terms of absolute and relative walking speeds (mesosoma lengths per second). Our results reveal that body size and shape affect locomotion behaviour to different extents in the worker subcastes (minor workers, medias, major workers) and in males. Nevertheless, C. fellah ants use the same overall locomotion strategy, with males and major workers reaching considerably lower walking speeds than minors and medias. Body size thus mainly affects walking speed. Minor workers reach the highest relative velocities by high relative stride lengths in combination with large vertical and lateral centre of mass oscillations and clearly higher stride frequencies of up to 25 Hz. Locomotion of males was characterised by clearly lower walking speeds, wider footprint positions, significant phase shifts and a notable dragging of the shorter hind legs. However, general walking parameters of males differed less from those of the female workers than expected as a result of division of labour in the colony.

Movement of american lobster Homarus americanus associated with offshore mussel Mytilus edulis aquaculture

Bivalve aquaculture sites attract a variety of large benthic species. Previous studies have shown that American lobsterHomarus americanusare more abundant in musselMytilus edulisfarms than in areas outside of them, suggesting that farms provide lobsters with adequate food and shelter. This study used acoustic telemetry to evaluate the influence of longline mussel farms on lobster movement behavior. In 2014, 60 lobsters were acoustically tagged on a boat and released in a mussel farm and at 2 reference sites outside the farm. Most lobsters (92%) left the monitored area within 1 d post-tagging; those released in reference sites moved northeast, whereas those released in the farm moved in random directions. Of the 16 lobsters that stayed or returned to the study area over the course of the 2 mo experiment, 10 displayed nomadic movements, 3 displayed small, local movements—presumably associated with foraging behavior, and 3 displayed both movements. The time lobsters spent within a site, distance travelled, and walking speed did not differ between the farm and reference sites. A second experiment was done in 2017 over 2 mo to evaluate tagging method (‘on boat’ andin situtagging) effects on lobster movement behavior. The experiment followed movements by 50 lobsters, half for each treatment, and showed that tagging method can affect walking speed during the first 24 h, but had no impact on the residence time and the distance travelled by the lobsters.

High Cognitive Load Situations With Different Conversation Topics Affect Walking Speed and Cognitive Complexity

Walking and talking on the phone are common high-cognitive-load-situations (HCLS; e.g. dual-tasks), requiring extra attentional allocation and increasing perceived stress. We explored whether two load types, 1) single-task (ST) walking or talking on a phone and 2) HCLS walking while talking on a phone, influenced walking and/or cognitive performance among young (n=7; age=23.00±2.08yrs), middle-aged (n=14; age=44.79±7.42yrs), and older (n=15; age=74.47±3.91yrs) adults while controlling for perceived stress. Participants completed 3-minute trials of single-task walking (ST-W), single-task phone conversations with common (e.g., weather; ST-C) and uncommon topics (e.g., life experience; ST-U), and walking while talking on a phone (HCLS-C and HCLS-U). Walking speed was analyzed with 3(ST-W;HCLS-C;HCLS-U) x 3(Age) ANCOVA. HCLS resulted in slower walking speed (p<.001). Older adults exhibited slower speed across conditions compared to young (p=.015). Cognitive complexity (i.e., conversational tone and words greater than six letters (SIXLTR)) on the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) were analyzed with 2(Cvs.U) x 2(STvs.HCLS) x 3(Age) ANCOVAs. Older age was associated with less cognitive complexity; positive tone (p=.014) and SIXLTR (p=.016), respectively in conversations. Uncommon topics reduced positive tone (p=.022) and SIXLTR (p=.003). Effects of HCLS on tone (p=.040) and SIXLTR (p=.005) varied with age. HCLS with different conversation topics resulted in reduced walking and cognitive complexity while controlling for perceived stress. The analysis of cognitive complexity using common/uncommon conversation topics is a novel method to assess the impact of HCLS. This research will disrupt the transformation of aging leading to a better understanding of attentional allocation and its effects on function.

Performance-based physical function correlates with walking speed and distance at 3 months post unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

After total knee arthroplasty (TKA), walking speed and distance are main concerns of patients. Which physical functions affect walking speed and distance after TKA? Cross-sectional data from 149 patients who underwent unilateral primary TKA and completed performance-based physical function tests. Instrumental gait evaluation for spatiotemporal parameters, isometric knee extensor and flexor strength of both knees, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), timed up-and-go (TUG) test, timed stair climbing test (SCT), and knee flexion and extension range of motion (ROM) of surgical knee were examined. Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and EuroQol five dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaires were also performed. Univariate analyses revealed that post-operative walking speed showed significant positive correlations with cadence, stride length, propulsion index of surgical and non-surgical knee, peak torque (PT) of the extensor of surgical and non-surgical knee and flexor of surgical and non-surgical knee, 6MWT, EQ-5D, and significant negative correlations with gait cycle duration, TUG, SCT-ascent and descent, and WOMAC-pain scores. Post-operative walking distance had significant positive correlations with walking speed, cadence, stride length, swing phase duration, propulsion index of surgical and non-surgical knee, PT of the extensor of surgical and non-surgical knee, EQ-5D, and significant negative correlation with gait cycle duration, double support duration, TUG, SCT-ascent and descent. In the multivariate linear regression analyses, TUG, cadence, stride length and propulsion index of non-surgical knee were factor correlated with post-operative walking speed. The SCT-ascent and descent, TUG and propulsion index of surgical knee were factor correlated with post-operative walking distance. Physical performance factors correlated with walking speed and distance at 3 months after surgery. Based on these observations, rehabilitation of bilateral muscle strength and functional mobility would be important for functional recovery after unilateral TKA.

Psihološka nauka od "objavi ili nestani" do "veruj, ali proveri"

At the time when social psychologists believed they could be proud of their discipline, there was the devastating news that Diederik Stapel had committed a major scientific fraud. This event coincided with the start of the discussion on trust in psychological findings. It was soon followed by the report of a series of nine studies that failed to replicate the 'professor's study'. These replication results were astounding due to earlier reports of successful replications. Due to the crisis of confidence in the results of field research, the Open Science Collaboration subsequently replicated 100 correlation and experimental studies published in 2008 in Psychological Science, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition. Of the 97% of the original studies that had a positive effect, 36% were replicated. However, their findings have also been called into question by calculating the Bayesian factor. In addition to fraud, questionable research practices resulting from publication bias that results in false positives undermine confidence in the validity of psychological research findings. Perhaps the most costly mistake of false-positive findings is to erroneously reject the null hypothesis. However, that Stapel (2011) confirmed the null hypothesis, or that Bargh (1996) found that admission of participants did not affect walking speed, or that Dijksterhuis and van Knipenberg (1998) reported that participants received with the word 'professor' did not improve their performance on task, no one would be interested in their findings. Zero findings are only interesting if they contradict the main hypothesis derived from the theory or contradict a number of previous studies. The fact that good experimental research is usually conducted in order to test theories, researchers can never be sure whether they have chosen the optimal operationalization of a given construct. As researchers can never be sure that they have properly operationalized the theoretical constructs they are evaluating and whether they have been successful in controlling the third variables that may be responsible for their results, the theory can never be proven true.

Genetic polymorphisms for BDNF, COMT, and APOE do not affect gait or ankle motor control in chronic stroke: A preliminary cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Motor deficits after stroke are a primary cause of long-term disability. The extent of functional recovery may be influenced by genetic polymorphisms. Objectives: Determine the effect of genetic polymorphisms for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) on walking speed, walking symmetry, and ankle motor control in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: 38 participants with chronic stroke were compared based upon genetic polymorphisms for BDNF (presence [MET group] or absence [VAL group] of a Met allele), COMT (presence [MET group] or absence [VAL group] of a Met allele), and APOE (presence [ε4+ group] of absence [ε4- group] of ε4 allele). Comfortable and maximal walking speed were measured with the 10-m walk test. Gait spatiotemporal symmetry was measured with the GAITRite electronic mat; symmetry ratios were calculated for step length, step time, swing time, and stance time. Ankle motor control was measured as the accuracy of performing an ankle tracking task. Results: No significant differences were detected (p ≥ 0.11) between the BDNF, COMT, or APOE groups for any variables. Conclusions: In these preliminary findings, genetic polymorphisms for BDNF, COMT, and APOE do not appear to affect walking speed, walking symmetry, or ankle motor performance in chronic stroke.

Gaze direction affects walking speed when using a self-paced treadmill with a virtual reality environment

BackgroundIn a previous study it was observed that participants increase their walking speed during a dual task while walking on a self-paced treadmill in a virtual reality (VR) environment (Gait Real time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL)). This observation is in contrast with the limited resources hypothesis, which suggests walking speed of healthy persons to decrease when performing a cognitive dual task. AimThe aim of the present study was therefore to determine whether the cognitive demand of the task, an aroused feeling, discrepancy in optic flow or a change in gaze direction caused participants to walk faster in this computer assisted rehabilitation environment. MaterialsThe GRAIL included a self-paced treadmill, a motion-capture system and synchronized VR environments. MethodsThirteen healthy young adults (mean age 21.6 ± 2.5) were included in this study. Participants walked on the self-paced treadmill while seven different intervention conditions (IC) were offered. Prior to each IC, a control condition (CC) was used to determine the natural self-selected walking speed. Walking speed during the last 30 s of each IC was compared with the walking speed during the last 30 s of the preceding CC. ResultsResults show that the height on which a visual task was presented in the VR environment, influenced walking speed. Participants walked faster when gaze was directed above the focus of expansion. SignificanceThese findings contribute to a further understanding of the differences between walking in a real life environment or computer assisted rehabilitation environment. When analyzing gait on a self-paced treadmill in the future, one must be attentive where to place a visual stimulus in the VR environment.

Factors Affecting Walking Speed in Schizophrenia Patients.

This study investigated the factors affecting walking speed in schizophrenia patients who were inpatients at a psychiatric hospital. The study subjects were 37 patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. The measured assessment items included age, duration of hospitalization, duration of disease, muscle strength (30-s chair stand test), balance ability (one-leg standing time with eyes open/closed, Functional Reach Test, and Timed Up & Go Test), flexibility (long sitting position toe-touching distance), walking speed (10-m maximum walking speed), and the antipsychotic drug intake. The walking speed was found to be correlated with the results of the 30-s chair stand test, the one-leg standing time with eyes open, the one-leg standing time with eyes closed, and the Timed Up & Go Test. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that only the Timed Up & Go Test results affected walking speed. In schizophrenia patients, walking speed is influenced by balance and lower-limb muscle force, just as it is for patients without mental diseases. In schizophrenia patients, the dynamic balance ability has a strong influence on the walking speed.

Carried Weight Affects Walking Speed Monitoring with the IngVaL System.

Earlier work has shown that the IngVaL pedobarography system can estimate walking speed during indoor walking using only three forefoot sensors. The aim of this study was to examine if monitoring of walking speed using data from these three forefoot sensors is affected of the weight a person carries, if the person performs a walk in a set speed on the treadmill. Shoe insoles with force sensing resistors were connected to an electronic unit for signal conditioning and sampling and then the data was sent via Bluetooth to a tablet. Fifteen test persons walked five times each carrying five different weights on the treadmill at 1 m/s. The force-time integrals for the sum of the three forefoot sensors were calculated. This study shows that the force-time integrals for the three forefoot sensors shows a linear relationship with the carried weight as long as the person is not fatigued.

Absence of a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Induced Lower Limb Corticomotor Response Does Not Affect Walking Speed in Chronic Stroke Survivors.

Background and Purpose- Transcranial magnetic stimulation is used to measure the functional integrity of the corticomotor system via motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in stroke. The association between corticomotor mechanisms and walking recovery is still not completely understood. This study determined the association between transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced MEPs and walking outcomes and examined the contribution of the contralesional hemisphere to walking recovery. Methods- Contralateral and ipsilateral transcranial magnetic stimulation responses from the contralesional and ipsilesional hemispheres were collected from 61 chronic stroke survivors. Clinical assessments included gait speeds, 6-minute walk distance, Timed Up and Go test, Fugl Meyer lower extremity scale, and strength measurements. Results- Stroke participants were classified based on the presence (MEP+ [n=28]) or absence (MEP- [n=33]) of MEPs in the paretic tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles. A between-group analyses showed no significant differences for any gait variable. MEP+ group showed significantly higher Fugl Meyer lower extremity and ankle dorsiflexor strength. Ipsilateral conductivity was not significantly different between groups. Finally, in the MEP+ group, MEP parameters did not predict gait recovery. Conclusions- Our study investigated the association between walking outcomes and neurophysiological parameters of lower limb function in a large cohort of stroke survivors. We did not find an associations between transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced tibialis anterior and rectus femoris MEPs and walking speeds. Further work is required to develop more comprehensive models in stroke for predicting walking recovery.

Effects of superficial heating and insulation on walking speed in people with hereditary and spontaneous spastic paraparesis: A randomised crossover study

ObjectivesCooling of the lower limb in people with Hereditary and Spontaneous Spastic Paraparesis (pwHSSP) has been shown to affect walking speed and neuromuscular impairments. The investigation of practical strategies, which may help to alleviate these problems is important. The potential of superficial heat to improve walking speed has not been explored in pwHSSP. Primary objective was to explore whether the application of superficial heat (hot packs) to lower limbs in pwHSSP improves walking speed. Secondary objective was to explore whether wearing insulation after heating would prolong any benefits. MethodsA randomised crossover study design with 21 pwHSSP. On two separate occasions two hot packs and an insulating wrap (Neo-G™) were applied for 30minutes to the lower limbs of pwHSSP. On one occasion the insulating wrap was maintained for a further 30minutes and on the other occasion it was removed. Measures of temperature (skin, room and core), walking speed (10 metre timed walk) and co-ordination (foot tap time) were taken at baseline (T1), after 30 mins (T2) and at one hour (T3). ResultsAll 21 pwHSSP reported increased lower limb stiffness and decreased walking ability when their legs were cold. After thirty minutes of heating, improvements were seen in walking speed (12.2%, P<0.0001, effect size 0.18) and foot tap time (21.5%, P<0.0001, effect size 0.59). Continuing to wear insulation for a further 30minutes gave no additional benefit; with significant improvements in walking speed maintained at one hour (9.9%, P>0.001) in both conditions. ConclusionsApplication of 30minutes superficial heating moderately improved walking speed in pwHSSP with effects maintained at 1hour. The use of hot packs applied to lower limbs should be the focus of further research for the clinical management of pwHSSP who report increased stiffness of limbs in cold weather and do not have sensory deficits.

バッタ規範型“歩行”ロボットの開発

In nature there are many insects with obvious differences in the length of each leg. However, there was not much discussion about the influence of these leg length differences on walking. So in this research, in order to elucidate the influence of the difference in leg length on walking, we focus on locusts, whose hind legs are considerably longer than other legs, and developed a six-legged walking robot based on the structure of locust. The developed walking robot is controlled by changing leg trajectories according to the installation state of each leg. We conducted walking experiments with the developed robot while varying the length of the hind legs and confirmed that leg length affects walking speed of the robot. These results suggest that there is a length of the hind leg suitable for walking.