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


CONCLUSIONS
Walking on a treadmill at a fixed gait velocity has a different effect on boys post-severe TBI and TD controls.
Katz-Leurer
Michal
M
Michal Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Professions, Physical Therapy Department, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. michalkz@post.tau.ac.il
Rotem
Hemda
H
Keren
Ofer
O
Meyer
Shirley
S
D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016138:Walking