Effects Of Treadmill Training Research Articles

Treadmill versus overground gait training in patients with lower limb burn injury: A comparative study.

The primary goal of the rehabilitation services offered to patients with lower limb burns is to enhance gait function. Exercise on a treadmill and conventional overground gait training are the two most widespread gait-training methods. Numerous studies have been published in the literature that claim treadmill training helps people walk more easily. Therefore, it would be intriguing to investigate whether treadmill gait training affects the progress made by post-lower limb burn patients compared to traditional overground gait training. The goal of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of treadmill training and traditional physical therapy therapies for improving gait after lower limb burn injury. A comparative study, was conducted between January to August 2022 at a burns care unit,in Islamabad. All the participants were informed about the study procedure and consent was taken before initiating the study. All the participants received the set standard of Burn Rehabilitation by the American Burn Association (ABA). The program consists of ROM exercises, mobilization, functional mobility, stretching, balance training,and resisted exercises for enhancing muscle power. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 24.0 software. The study subjects selected were 30 burn patients, aged above 18 years, vitally stable and had lower limb burn injuries with an average TBSA (total burn surface area) of 20-30%.The mean for Experimental is 18.86 and control group is 21.13. Patients were randomly either assigned to an experimental group or a control group. The Experimental group had a lower Time Up and Go test score of 11.86±3.58 (9.50-24.07)as compared to the control group's TUG score(of 12.78±4.41(6.30-24.07). Functional mobility significantly improved as the p<0.05. The total mean scores calculated on the Tampa Kinesiophobia scale for the Experimental group were 35.66±6.32 which was less compared with those of the control group 37.93± 6.36. It demonstrates that fear of movement was reduced for treadmill training participants. Comparison of pre-distance (350.9±86.82) , pre-velocity (62.78±20.20) and post distance (385.02±32.29), post-velocity 40.48±21.91 of the experimental group with the control group pre-distance (339.26±98.17, pre-velocity (55.07±22.63) and post-distance (383.07±36.914) post-velocity (40.57±21.95) showed significant changes in results. In contrast to traditional gait training, treadmill training significantly improves walking ability in burn patients with lower limb damage.

Proteomic Analysis of the Spinal Dorsal Horn in Mice with Neuropathic Pain After Exercise.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic pain state with a complex etiology that currently lacks effective treatment in clinical practice. Studies have found that exercise training can alleviate NP hyperalgesia, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. Here, we sought to identify proteins and signaling pathways critical for mediating the effects of treadmill training on NP in a mouse model of spared nerve injury (SNI). We used Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) technology for proteins and signaling pathways identification. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted using DAVID and Metascape software. Ingenuity pathway analysis was used to conduct functional annotation and analyze alterations in canonical pathways and molecular networks. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to confirm the results of proteomics analysis. A total of 270 differentially expressed proteins were screened in the detrained and trained groups (P ≤0.05). Enrichment and ingenuity pathway analysis revealed the effects of treadmill training on autophagy, cAMP-mediated signaling, calcium signaling and NP signaling in dorsal horn nerves. Treadmill training reduced the expression of Akt3, Atf2, Gsk3b, Pik3c3, Ppp2ca, and Sqstm1, and increased the expression of Pik3cb in the autophagic pathway. Our results suggest that treadmill training may alleviate nociceptive hyperalgesia in NP mice by modulating the autophagic pathway, providing unique mechanistic insights into the analgesic effects of exercise.

Effect of Treadmill Training with Visual Biofeedback on Selected Gait Parameters in Subacute Hemiparetic Stroke Patients

Functional limitations after a stroke are unique to each person and often include impaired independent mobility. A reduction in existing gait deficits after a stroke is often one of the main goals of rehabilitation. Gait re-education after stroke is a complex process, which consists of the effects of many therapeutic interventions. The study aimed to analyze the effects of using a treadmill with visual feedback in gait re-education in the sub-acute stroke period and assess the impact of biofeedback treadmill training on selected gait parameters, improving static balance and reducing the need for orthopedic aids. The study included 92 patients (F: 45, M: 47) aged 63 ± 12 years, with post-ischemic sub-acute (within six months onset) stroke hemiparesis, treated at a neurological rehabilitation ward. All patients participated in a specific rehabilitation program, and in addition, patients in the study group (n = 62) have a further 10 min of treadmill training with visual feedback. Patients in the control group (n = 30) participated in additional conventional gait training under the direct supervision of a physiotherapist. The evaluation of static balance was assessed with the Romberg Test. A Biodex Gait Trainer 3 treadmill with biofeedback function was used to evaluate selected gait parameters (walking speed, step length, % limb loading, and traveled distance). The use of an orthopedic aid (walker or a crutch) was noted. After four weeks of rehabilitation, step length, walking speed, traveled distance, and static balance were significantly improved for the study and control group (p < 0.05). Treadmill gait training yielded significantly better results than a conventional rehabilitation program. Only the study group observed a corrected walking base (p < 0.001). All participants showed a reduction in the use of walking aids (p = 0.006). There was no asymmetry in the % of limb loading for either group prior to or following rehabilitation. The treadmill with visual biofeedback as conventional gait training has resulted in a significant improvement in parameters such as step length, walking speed, static balance, and a reduction in the use of locomotion aids. However, the achieved improvement in gait parameters is still not in line with the physiological norm.

Effectiveness of virtual reality on functional mobility during treadmill training in children with cerebral palsy: a single-blind, two-arm parallel group randomised clinical trial (VirtWalkCP Project)

IntroductionTreadmill training and virtual reality have been investigated in children with cerebral palsy. However, few studies have assessed the effectiveness of the combination of both treatments on children’s functional and...

Exercise Training Ameliorates Cardiac Aging Of Mice Through Activating Apelin/apj System

PURPOSE: Apelin/APJ system is known to improve cardiovascular disease. Exercise training has been associated with benefits against cardiac diseases and aging associated disorders. Our previous research showed that the serum Apelin levels decreased with age and exogenous Apelin intervention or overexpression of its receptor APJ could reverse the aging phenotype in D-galactose-induced aging cardiomyocytes. Herein we investigated the role Apelin/APJ system played in exercise training ameliorates cardiac aging. METHODS: The aging heart was simulated in 24 weeks-old senescence-accelerated mice. Mice were subjected to 6 weeks treadmill training, and treated with or without intraperitoneal injection of the apelin receptor antagonist - F13A 75ug/kg per day during training. The effects of treadmill training on circulating Apelin, myocardial Apelin / APJ, cardiac aging phenotype and mitochondrial autophagy were evaluated. RESULTS: Exercise training reduced weight loss, myocardial fibrosis and cardiac expression of aging biomarkers (p16, p53 and p21) in aged mice. In addition, exercise training increased the expression of Apelin and APJ in cardiomyocytes and maintained mitochondrial homeostasis, as evidenced by expression of mitochondrial related proteins (PGC-1α, CPT1A, PINK1, Parkin, Drp-1 and fis-1). The cardioprotective effects of exercise training were weakened by inhibition of the Apelin/APJ system. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our research showed that exercise training ameliorated phenotype of cardiac aging and disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis through activating the Apelin/APJ system. Hence, pharmacological activation of the Apelin/APJ system may prove to be a promising prevention against aging related heart disease especially in subjects with intolerance of exercise.

P2.05-01 The Effect of Treadmill Training on Cardiopulmonary, Health-related Quality of Life in Lung Cancer with Lobectomy

Patients with lung cancer are often deconditioned and may have poor cardiopulmonary fitness (CPF). Lung resection surgery further reduces the CPF. To our knowledge, only four studies have assessed the exercise capacity after lung resection surgery using cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and prescribed exercise intensity according to the measured VO2max. However, these studies used a cycle ergometer or combined exercise with resistance training. There has been no study to apply only treadmill training for pulmonary rehabilitation, the implementation of which was based on CPET-measured VO2max.

Treadmill exercise decreases cerebral edema in rats with local cerebral infarction by modulating AQP4 polar expression through the caveolin-1/TRPV4 signaling pathway

Rehabilitation therapy is beneficial for patients with ischemic stroke. Our previous study showed that treadmill training is conducive to neurological function in rats that underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). However, whether exercise benefits cerebral edema and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. This study investigated the influence of treadmill exercise on brain edema and the mechanism of its formation and elimination. The MCAO model was established with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and lentivirus-mediated caveolin-1 shRNA was used to investigate the role of caveolin-1 in brain edema. As expected, we found that treadmill exercise has a beneficial effect on brain edema after stroke. Training led to a significant increase in the expression of caveolin-1 and TRPV4; and reduced brain water content and blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage. This treatment also changed the localization of aquaporin-4 (AQP4). Moreover, the effect of treadmill training on the polar expression of AQP4 differed over time. The results showed that early treadmill training inhibited the polar expression of AQP4, and later promoted its expression. However, the rats that were injected with the caveolin-1 shRNA lentivirus exhibited enhanced edema. Caveolin-1 shRNA eliminated the protective effect induced by exercise, which is consistent with the downregulation of TRPV4 expression. The findings indicate that treadmill training improves brain edema through the caveolin-1/TRPV4/AQP4 pathway.

Treadmill Training Reduces Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting Ferroptosis through Activation of SLC7A11/GPX4.

The mechanism by which exercise training attenuates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, especially in the regulation of iron level in neuronal damage, has not been systematically studied. Here, we showed that treadmill training inhibited ferroptosis after I/R injury in rats. Modified neurologic severity score (mNSS) test showed that the motor function, reflex, and balance abilities in the I/R injury rats after treadmill intervention were significantly improved. Treadmill training decreased the level of lipid peroxides in the cerebral cortex of ischemic rats. We found that the protein levels of ferroptosis-related proteins including nuclear transcription factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), cystine/glutamate reverse transporter (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) were decreased in rats after cerebral I/R injury, while treadmill training prevented the reduction of these proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrated that erastin- (a ferroptosis activator-) induced downregulation of SLC7A11 reversed the neuroprotective effect of treadmill training. This study provides the first evidence suggesting that treadmill training suppresses ferroptosis by activating the SLC7A11/GPx4 pathway, thereby protecting against cerebral I/R injury.

Treadmill training improves respiratory function in rats after spinal cord injury by inhibiting the HMGB1/TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of treadmill training on lung injury and HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. MethodsA total of 108 female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation group, SCI brake group, and SCI exercise group. The rats in the SCI exercise group began treadmill training on the 3rd day after the operation. The rats in the SCI brake group underwent braking treatment. The lung tissues were obtained on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days after exercise. Locomotor functional recovery was determined using the BBB scores and inclined plane test. Respiratory function was determined via abdominal aortic blood gas analysis. HE staining was used to detect pathological changes in rat lung tissue. RNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed genes at different phases in each group of lung tissues. HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB in lung tissue were detected using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Detection of HMGB1 levels in serum, spinal cord tissues and lung tissues by ELISA. HMGB1, TLR4, NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α mRNA, and protein expression levels were detected via qRT PCR and western blot. ResultsMotor and respiratory functions significantly decreased after SCI (P < 0.05). However, locomotion and respiratory functions were significantly improved after treadmill training intervention (P < 0.05). HE staining showed that interstitial thickening, inflammatory cells, and erythrocyte infiltration occurred in lung tissue of rats after SCI (P < 0.05). Moreover, inflammatory reaction in lung tissue was significantly reduced after treadmill training intervention (P < 0.05). A total of 428 differentially expressed mRNAs [(|log2(FC)| > 2, P < 0.05)] were identified in the intersection of the three groups. KEGG analysis identified five enriched signal pathways, including NF-kappa B. ELISA results showed that treadmill training could significantly reduce the levels of HMGB1 in serum, spinal cord tissue and lung tissue that were elevated after SCI (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, qRT PCR, and Western blot showed that HMGB1, TLR4, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB expressions were significantly up-regulated at the 3rd, 7th and 14th days after SCI, compared with the sham group. Besides, inflammatory cytokines were significantly lower in the SCI exercise group than in the SCI brake group at all time points after intervention (P < 0.05). ConclusionTreadmill training alleviates lung tissue inflammation and promotes recovery of motor and respiratory functions by inhibiting the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway after SCI in rats.

Locomotor Training Enhances Respiratory Plasticity in a Pre‐clinical Model of Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating and irreversible injury that impacts thousands of people each year. Most injuries occur at cervical levels, compromising the phrenic motor network, resulting in life‐threatening respiratory deficits. While there is mounting clinical and pre‐clinical evidence for spontaneous plasticity, it is limited, and life‐threatening deficits persist. One strategy for therapeutically enhancing plasticity is the use of activity‐based therapies, such as respiratory and locomotor training. Clinical studies using treadmill training have shown improved respiratory function for individuals with SCI. Therefore, the present work reverse translates these promising clinical findings back to animal models of mid‐cervical SCI to assess the effects of treadmill training on anatomical and functional respiratory plasticity after injury.Adult female Sprague‐Dawley rats (~200g) received a lateralized C3/4 contusive injury. One week post injury, the animals were blindly divided into two groups: untrained or treadmill trained (30 min, once a day, 5 days a week) for 4 weeks. Breathing behavior was measured each week using whole‐body plethysmography. After training completion, all animals were anatomically traced with retrograde and transsynaptic pseudorabies virus (PRV) to the left hemidiaphragm to label the phrenic motor network, ipsilateral to injury. Three days later, animals were anesthetized and diaphragm electromyography (dEMG) was performed to observe ipsilateral diaphragm deficits and respiratory recovery, and animals were perfused for histology. Immunohistological assessment was used to quantify interneuronal connectivity and density of descending serotonergic input to the phrenic motor network. Preliminary data demonstrated increased interneuronal connectivity with injured phrenic motor network, and increased serotonergic input to spinal networks caudal to injury. Electrophysiological assessment of diaphragm function revealed increased diaphragm activity ipsilateral to injury, after 4 weeks of training. Ongoing analyses will further elucidate the therapeutic effects of locomotor training for improving breathing post‐SCI.

Effect of Treadmill Training with Ankle Joint Taping on Gait Function and Balance Ability in Patients with Subacute Stroke: A Randomized, Controlled, Preliminary Trial

Effect of Treadmill Training with Ankle Joint Taping on Gait Function and Balance Ability in Patients with Subacute Stroke: A Randomized, Controlled, Preliminary Trial

Treadmill training attenuate STZ-induced cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats via modulating Grb10/IGF-R signaling

Type 2 diabetes is a major factor contributing to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Treadmill running is considered to be a critical approach for mice and rats to lower blood sugar and improve learning and memory capacity. The growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (Grb10) has been proposed to inhibit insulin signaling and defective brain insulin signaling resulted in the cognitive deficits in patients with AD. However, the positive roles of treadmill training on diabetic- related impaired cognitive function and their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, to investigate whether there was neuroprotective effects of treadmill training on impaired cognitive function caused by diabetes, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin at a dose of 30 mg/kg to establish diabetic model (DM). We found that higher Grb10, BACE1 and PHF10 protein levels in the hippocampus of DM rats, lower phosphorylation IGF-1Rβ and IRS-1(ser307). However, 8 weeks treadmill training effectively reduced abnormal Grb10, enhanced postsynaptic density protein PSD-93, PSD-95, SYN expressions of hippocampus, restored PI3K/Akt/ERK and mTOR/AMPK signaling, thus alleviated spatial learning and memory deficit, compared with DM group. Additionally, treadmill training also increased GLUT4 transportation. Overall, our findings suggest that treadmill intervention improved cognitive impairments caused by diabetes disease partly through modulating Grb10/ PI3K/Akt/ERK as well as mTOR/AMPK signaling.

Physical exercise influences astrocytes in the striatum of a Parkinson’s disease male mouse model

Physical exercise is considered an adjuvant treatment to Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, possibly reducing inflammatory responses in the brain. Studies have stated that physical exercise protects dopaminergic neurons in PD models produced by neurotoxins. However, few studies focused on immunohistochemically reacted astrocytes and morphometric analyses of these cells in a PD mouse model submitted to physical exercise. We investigated the effects of treadmill training on striatal astrocytes of a PD mouse model combining immunohistochemistry and western-blotting for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) with morphometric analyses. Male Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: sedentary control (SEDCONT), exercise control (EXERCONT), sedentary Parkinson (SEDPD), and exercise Parkinson (EXERPD). Stereotaxic bilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine into the striatum were adopted for PD groups. Striatal astrocytes showed increased GFAP in EXERPD, and we observed a higher level of GFAP in EXERPD than SEDPD. The number of primary and secondary processes was similar in striatal astrocytes of control groups and EXERPD. The astrocyte primary processes of SEDPD were larger than those of EXERPD, EXERCONT and SEDCONT. Cell body diameters and areas showed no difference between groups. We concluded that physical exercise influences striatal astrocytes in exercised parkinsonian mice.

트레드밀 훈련과 Lee Silverman Voice Treatment(LSVT)-BIG 프로그램이 파킨슨병 환자의 균형 및 보행능력에 미치는 효과 : 단일사례연구

This study aimed to investigate the effect of treadmill training and Lee Silverman Voice Treatment(LSVT)-BIG program on the balance and gait functions of a patient with Parkinson's disease. A participant was a person who suffered from idiopathic Parkinson's disease. We used a single-subject experimental research design with reversal phases (A-B-A). Experimental session was eight sessions in three phases (a total of 24 sessions): (1) baseline phase (A), (2) intervention phase (B), and (3) withdrawal phase (A'). During all phases, a participant underwent daily routine rehabilitation therapy, including mat exercise, flexibility training, and therapist-guided functional activity. Furthermore, treadmill training and LSVT-BIG was additionally performed for 70 minutes, once per day in the intervention phase, which consisted of warm-up (5 minutes), LSVT-BIG (30 minutes), treadmill training (30 minutes), and cool-down (5 minutes). During the intervention phase, the TUG and 10MWT scores improved by 3.75 seconds (36.89 seconds to 33.14 seconds) and 2.28 seconds (26.07 seconds to 23.79 seconds) in average, respectively. And gains were maintained after the intervention. Furthermore, the BBS and DGI scores improved by 17 points (4 points to 21 points) and 11 points (6 points to 17 points) in average, respectively. These findings suggest that treadmill training and LSVT-BIG may be helpful to enhance balance and walking functions in a person with Parkinson’s disease. Further studies need to support these results.

Effects of Treadmill Training with Kinesio Taping of Tibialis Anterior on Muscle Function, Tibialis Anterior Muscle Strength, and Gait Ability in Poststroke Patients

Effects of Treadmill Training with Kinesio Taping of Tibialis Anterior on Muscle Function, Tibialis Anterior Muscle Strength, and Gait Ability in Poststroke Patients

Effects of Treadmill Training and Stationary Cycling Training to Improve Ambulatory Function and Cardiovascular Fitness

Background: Stroke is a universal health care disease, the important cause of long time disability in world. Stroke leads to an inactive living, physical restrictions, and not good physical levels, which are related with common post-stroke participation limits. Aerobic capability and walking ability are decreased in old chronic patients of stroke. Aim: To determine the effects of treadmill training and stationary cycling training to improve ambulatory function and cardiovascular fitness in hemiparetic stroke patients Methods: 54 chronic stroke patients were allocated to treadmill training group(n=27) or stationary cycle exercise group (n=27). All participants received conventional physical therapy along with treadmill or stationary cycle training. The 10MWT was conducted to measure gait function and 6 min walk test was used to measure cardiovascular health. Results: The mean of treadmill group for 10 meter walk test is 10.01 + 15.48. The mean of stationary cycle group for 10 meter walk test is 9.80 + 6.77. The mean of treadmill group for 6 min walk test is 22.04+ 17.45. The mean of stationary cycle group for 6 min walk test is 23.20+ 22.92. The p value of 0.000 shows significant difference. This significant difference reflects that both interventions show equal improvement in participants. There is significant difference between pre and post treatment values of both interventions. Both intervention groups displayed significant effect in ambulatory functions and cardiovascular fitness. The results between groups were non significant, it means both interventions showed equal effect but results with in groups were significant. Conclusion: The study showed that treadmill training and stationary cycling training equally enhanced the gait ability and cardiovascular health of chronic stroke patients. Therefore, these exercises could be used to enhance walking and cardiovascular health in management of stroke. Keywords: treadmill training, stationary cycle training, ambulatory function, cardiovascular fitness, stroke

Effectiveness of Treadmill Training on Walking Ability in Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) may necessitate long-term treatment and monitoring of their condition, not only during the period of development but also during adulthood. Objectives: This systematic review aimed to analyze evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have investigated the effect of treadmill training on walking ability in adults with cerebral palsy. Methods: RCTs were identified and selected systematically, with appropriate keywords applied in four scientific databases (Medline, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and one bibliographic search engine (Google Scholar) from January 1980 to September 2021. Two assessors extracted and analyzed data from relevant RCTs published in English and then independently rated those studies for risk of bias with the Risk of Bias (RoB 2) tool. Results: Out of the 96 studies that were initially identified, 93 were excluded, as these either did not meet the inclusion criteria or were duplicates. Three clinical trials were finally included, characterized by some concerns and a high risk of bias (RoB 2). Meta-analysis was only performed for the maximum distance in the ‘6-minute walk for distance test’, due to differences in the remaining outcomes utilized between studies. Overall, there was evidence of some concerns and high risk of bias that treadmill training did not significantly improve the walking ability in adult patients with CP relative to the control conditions. Conclusion: More high-quality RCTs are required, examining the effectiveness of treadmill training on different aspects of walking ability such as gait speed, endurance, and energy expenditure.

Treadmill training based on the overload principle promotes locomotor recovery in a mouse model of chronic spinal cord injury

Rehabilitative treatment, including treadmill training, is considered an important strategy for restoring motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, many unexplained problems persist regarding the appropriate rehabilitative method and the mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of rehabilitation. Moreover, only a few preclinical studies have been performed on rehabilitative interventions for chronic SCI, although most patients have chronic injuries. In fact, several preclinical studies reported that rehabilitative training was less effective when applied during the chronic phase than when applied sooner. While numerous studies have examined the effects of treadmill training during the subacute phase, the training conditions vary considerably among preclinical reports. Therefore, establishing a standard training protocol is essential for achieving beneficial rehabilitation effects at the chronic stage. Since the difficulty of applying an appropriate training load hinders training at constant speeds, it is important to adjust the training intensity in accordance with the exercise tolerance of an individual animal to provide further functional recovery benefits. Here, we created a novel quadrupedal treadmill training protocol based on the overload principle for mice with incomplete thoracic SCI. We subjected SCI model mice to rehabilitative training according to the protocol for two consecutive weeks starting at 42 days after injury. We examined the treadmill speeds at which the mice were able to run based on the severity of paresis and investigated the impact of the protocol on functional recovery. Assessment of running speed changes during the treadmill training period revealed faster treadmill speeds for mice with mild paresis than for those with severe paresis. The training parameters, including the speed and distance traveled, were positively correlated with the changes in motor function. These results suggest that the most suitable running speed during treadmill training differs according to the level of motor dysfunction and that running longer distances has a positive impact on motor functional recovery. Based on this established protocol, we compared functional and histological results between the chronic SCI groups with and without rehabilitation. The gait analyses showed significantly better functional improvement in the rehabilitation group than in the nonrehabilitation group. Histological analyses revealed that the BDNF- and VGLUT1-positive areas of lumbar enlargement were significantly increased in the rehabilitation group. These findings implied that rehabilitation promoted not only motor performance but also motor control, including forelimb-hindlimb coordination, even in chronic SCI, resulting in functional improvement by treadmill training alone. Therefore, rehabilitative training based on the overload principle appears to be one of the appropriate treatment options for incomplete thoracic SCI, and evidence of its efficacy exists in actual clinical settings.

Treadmill exercise influences the microRNA profiles in the bone tissues of mice.

As an important regulator involved in cell activity, microRNAs (miRNAs) are important in the process of exercise influencing bone metabolism. The present study aimed to detect and select differentially expressed miRNAs in the bone tissues of mice trained on a treadmill, predict the target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs and lay a foundation for exploring the effect of treadmill training on bone metabolism through miRNAs. In this experiment, after the mice were trained on a treadmill for 8 weeks, the mechanical properties of mouse femur bone were assessed, and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin (OCN) protein levels of the bone were assayed. miRNA microarray and reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR were performed to select and validate differentially expressed miRNAs in the bone, and the target genes of these miRNAs were predicted with bioinformatics methods. In addition, the differentially expressed miRNAs in the bone tissues were compared with those in mechanically strained osteocytes in vitro. Treadmill training improved the mechanical properties of the femur bones of mice, and elevated the ALP activity and OCN protein level in the bone. In addition, 122 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected in the bone, of which nine were validated via RT-qPCR. Among the target genes of these differentially expressed miRNAs, certain candidates were involved in bone metabolism. A total of eight miRNAs were differentially expressed in both bone tissue and osteocytes, exhibiting the same expression trends, and various target genes of these eight miRNAs were also involved in bone metabolism. Treadmill training resulted in altered miRNA expression profiles in the bones of mice (mainly in osteocytes) and the differentially expressed miRNAs may serve important roles in regulating bone metabolism and osteogenic differentiation.

The Effect of Bilateral Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation versus Treadmill Training on Brain Activities, Gait Functions, Level of Participation and Enjoyment of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol

ABSTRACT Background Cerebral palsy (CP) possesses bilateral sensory-motor cortical excitability alterations. In past studies, researchers have applied unilateral anodal transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) with inconsistent findings. Objective Examining the effects of treadmill training with either unilateral or bilateral anodal tDCS stimulation on brain activities, gait, and body functions of children with CP. Design Randomized-clinical-trial. Participants Eighty children with CP will be allocated into: treadmill/bilateral-tDCS, treadmill/unilateral-tDCS, treadmill/sham-tDCS, and treadmill groups. Additional 20 neurotypical children will be recruited for comparison. Intervention Planned intervention will implement ten-sessions of treadmill training (50% of maximum-ground speed) either with unilateral-tDCS over left sensory-motor, or bilateral-tDCS over left/right sensory-motor areas. Brain activities, gait, body functions, and participation will be assessed at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at one-month follow-up. Result and Discussion This study would contribute to extant findings on the use of tDCS stimulation in children with CP and to our understanding of the appropriateness of the planned outcome measures.