Kinematic adaptations of spinal cord-injured subjects during obstructed walking.
METHODS
A case-control study of walking over obstacles.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize and compare the kinematic, anticipatory locomotor adjustments used by people with incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCIs).


METHODS
The angular and linear kinematics of the lower limb when going over obstacles of low height (0.005 and 0.030 m) were compared between SCI subjects (n = 6) and able-bodied participants (n = 5).


RESULTS
The results of this study show that even though SCI participants could adapt their kinematic patterns to go over obstacles, none of the participants used kinematic strategies similar to those of able-bodied participants.


CONCLUSIONS
This difference could be explained in part by the absence in the SCI participants of increased hip flexion when going over the obstacles. Other confounding factors are discussed.
Ladouceur
Michel
M
Faculty of Applied Health Science, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Barbeau
Hugues
H
McFadyen
Bradford J
BJ
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005684:Gait; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking