Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by degradation of the myelin sheath resulting in impaired neural communication throughout the body. As a result, most people with MS (PwMS) experience gait asymmetries between their legs leading to an increased risk of falls. Recen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/12/5456 |
| _version_ | 1827735699078512640 |
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| author | Andrew C. Hagen Jordan S. Acosta Chaia S. Geltser Brett W. Fling |
| author_facet | Andrew C. Hagen Jordan S. Acosta Chaia S. Geltser Brett W. Fling |
| author_sort | Andrew C. Hagen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by degradation of the myelin sheath resulting in impaired neural communication throughout the body. As a result, most people with MS (PwMS) experience gait asymmetries between their legs leading to an increased risk of falls. Recent work indicates that split-belt treadmill adaptation, where the speed of each leg is controlled independently, can decrease gait asymmetries for other neurodegenerative impairments. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of split-belt treadmill training to improve gait symmetry in PwMS. In this study, 35 PwMS underwent a 10 min split-belt treadmill adaptation paradigm, with the faster paced belt moving under the more affected limb. Step length asymmetry (SLA) and phase coordination index (PCI) were the primary outcome measures used to assess spatial and temporal gait symmetries, respectively. It was predicted that participants with a worse baseline symmetry would have a greater response to split-belt treadmill adaptation. Following this adaptation paradigm, PwMS experienced aftereffects that improved gait symmetry, with a significant difference between predicted responders and nonresponders in both SLA and PCI change (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, there was no correlation between SLA and PCI change. These findings suggest that PwMS retain the ability for gait adaptation, with those most asymmetrical at baseline demonstrating the greatest improvement, and that there may be separate neural mechanisms for spatial and temporal locomotor adjustments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:57:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc5daaeef3c04027b5df9072e7596387 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:57:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc5daaeef3c04027b5df9072e75963872023-11-18T12:31:18ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-06-012312545610.3390/s23125456Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple SclerosisAndrew C. Hagen0Jordan S. Acosta1Chaia S. Geltser2Brett W. Fling3Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USADepartment of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by degradation of the myelin sheath resulting in impaired neural communication throughout the body. As a result, most people with MS (PwMS) experience gait asymmetries between their legs leading to an increased risk of falls. Recent work indicates that split-belt treadmill adaptation, where the speed of each leg is controlled independently, can decrease gait asymmetries for other neurodegenerative impairments. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of split-belt treadmill training to improve gait symmetry in PwMS. In this study, 35 PwMS underwent a 10 min split-belt treadmill adaptation paradigm, with the faster paced belt moving under the more affected limb. Step length asymmetry (SLA) and phase coordination index (PCI) were the primary outcome measures used to assess spatial and temporal gait symmetries, respectively. It was predicted that participants with a worse baseline symmetry would have a greater response to split-belt treadmill adaptation. Following this adaptation paradigm, PwMS experienced aftereffects that improved gait symmetry, with a significant difference between predicted responders and nonresponders in both SLA and PCI change (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Additionally, there was no correlation between SLA and PCI change. These findings suggest that PwMS retain the ability for gait adaptation, with those most asymmetrical at baseline demonstrating the greatest improvement, and that there may be separate neural mechanisms for spatial and temporal locomotor adjustments.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/12/5456multiple sclerosisadaptationsplit-belt treadmillgait asymmetrysensorimotor controllocomotion |
| spellingShingle | Andrew C. Hagen Jordan S. Acosta Chaia S. Geltser Brett W. Fling Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis Sensors multiple sclerosis adaptation split-belt treadmill gait asymmetry sensorimotor control locomotion |
| title | Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_full | Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_fullStr | Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_short | Split-Belt Treadmill Adaptation Improves Spatial and Temporal Gait Symmetry in People with Multiple Sclerosis |
| title_sort | split belt treadmill adaptation improves spatial and temporal gait symmetry in people with multiple sclerosis |
| topic | multiple sclerosis adaptation split-belt treadmill gait asymmetry sensorimotor control locomotion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/12/5456 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrewchagen splitbelttreadmilladaptationimprovesspatialandtemporalgaitsymmetryinpeoplewithmultiplesclerosis AT jordansacosta splitbelttreadmilladaptationimprovesspatialandtemporalgaitsymmetryinpeoplewithmultiplesclerosis AT chaiasgeltser splitbelttreadmilladaptationimprovesspatialandtemporalgaitsymmetryinpeoplewithmultiplesclerosis AT brettwfling splitbelttreadmilladaptationimprovesspatialandtemporalgaitsymmetryinpeoplewithmultiplesclerosis |