Stabilization Strategies for Fast Walking in Challenging Environments With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.
Tara Cornwell, Jane Woodward, Wendy Ochs and 1 others
PMID 36188795WHAT IT FOUND
People with incomplete spinal cord injury maintained lateral stability when walking fast, even in a balance-challenging environment.
They achieved this by taking more steps and time to complete side maneuvers, prioritizing safety over speed. This suggests they naturally adopt cautious strategies to avoid falls.
Key findings
01During straight walking, lateral stability measures did not significantly change with speed for either group, even when a robot applied forces to challenge balance.
02When performing lateral maneuvers in the challenging force field, participants with incomplete spinal cord injury took more steps and time at fast speeds compared to preferred speeds, whereas controls did not increase their effort as much.
03Participants with incomplete spinal cord injury maintained their safety margin during maneuver termination at fast speeds, while controls reduced their safety margin.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 12 participants with incomplete spinal cord injury, all of whom were high-functioning (AIS D) and able to walk independently. The use of a laboratory treadmill and robotic force field may not fully replicate the unpredictability of real-world community environments. Three participants with spinal cord injury withdrew from the study because they could not complete the protocol without external assistance, potentially excluding those with more severe deficits.
Declared interests
The authors declared no commercial or financial conflicts of interest. The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that stable straight-line walking speed translates to stable maneuvering speed. The study shows that while stability is maintained during straight walking, the strategy for lateral maneuvers changes significantly under challenge, with patients prioritizing safety over speed.