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Size of kinematic error affects retention of locomotor adaptation in human spinal cord injury. Sheng-Che Yen, PT, PhD; Jill M. Landry, MSRS-PT; Ming Wu, PhD. Aim
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Size of kinematic error affects retention of locomotor adaptation in human spinal cord injury Sheng-Che Yen, PT, PhD; Jill M. Landry, MSRS-PT; Ming Wu, PhD
Aim • Determine whether small error size in locomotor adaptation in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to longer retention of aftereffect. • Relevance • Arm motor adaptation studies suggest introducing small errors during adaptation period may lead to longer retention of aftereffect than large errors, but whether this can be generalized to locomotor adaptation is unclear.
Method • 12 subjects with incomplete SCI walked on treadmill. • Light-, medium, and heavy-resistance loads were applied to right ankle to perturb leg swing.
Results • Subjects tended to make larger errors when resistance-load condition was greater. • Following resistance load release, subjects showed aftereffect of increased stride length. • Aftereffect was retained longer in medium-resistance load condition than in heavy- and light-resistance load conditions.
Conclusion • Patient-specific resistance load may be needed to facilitate retention of locomotor adaptation in patients with incomplete SCI.