Intermittent adaptation to pelvis perturbation during walking enhances retention and generalization of motor learning in people with incomplete spinal cord injury.

Publisher: Springer Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 0043312 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1106 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00144819 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Exp Brain Res Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Berlin : Springer Verlag

Walking*/physiology ; Spinal Cord Injuries*/physiopathology ; Spinal Cord Injuries*/rehabilitation ; Pelvis*/physiology ; Pelvis*/physiopathology ; Adaptation, Physiological*/physiology ; Generalization, Psychological*/physiology; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Retention, Psychology/physiology ; Electromyography ; Motor Skills/physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology ; Learning/physiology ; Biomechanical Phenomena/physiology ; Postural Balance/physiology

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the intermittent adaptation to pelvis perturbation load enhances retention of improved weight transfer and generalization of motor skills from treadmill to overground walking, compared with effects of the continuous adaptation. Fifteen individuals with incomplete SCI participated in two experimental sessions. Each session consisted of (1) perturbed treadmill walking with either intermittent (i.e., interspersed 3 intervals of no perturbation) or continuous (no interval) adaptation to novel walking patterns induced by external pelvis perturbation and (2) instrumented treadmill walking and overground walking before, immediately, and 10-min post perturbed treadmill walking. The external pulling force was applied to the pelvis towards the lateral side while the leg touched the treadmill belt. Participants showed a retention of improved mediolateral weight transfer (P = 0.002) and of enhanced activation of hip abductor (P = 0.016) and calf muscles (P < 0.05) in the intermittent condition, whereas the continuous condition did not (P ≥ 0.05). After the perturbed treadmill walking practice, participants exhibited increased mediolateral weight transfer during overground walking (P = 0.04) and enhanced propulsion (P = 0.047) during the instrumented treadmill walking for the intermittent condition, whereas the continuous condition did not show significant changes (P ≥ 0.13). Further, the intermittent condition induced a greater increase in overground walking speed than the continuous condition did (P = 0.002). In conclusion, intermittent adaptation to the pelvis perturbation load during treadmill walking can promote retention and generalization of motor learning for improving walking and balance in people with incomplete SCI.
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors report no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Northwestern University Medical School Institute Review Board approved all procedures, and all participants signed the informed consent before data collection. Consent for publication: Participants’ information were de-identified and were consented to be published.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

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R01 HD083314 United States HD NICHD NIH HHS; R01HD083314 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Keywords: Intermittent adaptation; Locomotion; Motor learning; Pelvis perturbation; Spinal cord injury

Date Created: 20241211 Date Completed: 20241211 Latest Revision: 20241214

20241214

10.1007/s00221-024-06971-z

39661127