Kin460 Lab 3 - Grade: A PDF

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Lab3 for Kin essay...

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Split-belt treadmill walking Sometimes information can be found in these papers, often more relevant information can be found in the works cited within these papers, or works that cite these papers. For this (and the next) assignment, you will need to find other scientific articles yourselves, to answer several of the questions. When using sources, you’re expected to cite them in text (not just at the bottom of your answer). Also list all the cited sources at the end of the document.

Task 1 [10 points] What? a)

What is a split-belt treadmill? [2 points]

A split-belt treadmill is a treadmill with two separate belts on it. These two belts allow for movement at equal speed or they can move independently allowing different speeds for each leg. This treadmill allows for the study of short-term and long-term gait modifications. b) What happens to step length symmetry during the adaptation and post adaptation periods? [3 points] During adaptation, the step length becomes more symmetrical. The paretic leg step length begins to lengthen matching the non-paretic leg. Then, during post-adaptation, the symmetry gradually decreases and begins to go back to the baseline numbers becoming more asymmetrical. c) Reisman et al. 2005 introduced the term “a modified version of stride length for the treadmill was calculated as the distance traveled by the ankle marker in the anterior-posterior direction from initial contact to lift-off of one limb”, which is confusing as this measure is very different from stride length during overground walking. What would be a better term for “the distance traveled by the ankle marker in the anterior-posterior direction from initial contact to lift-off of one limb”? [2 points] One way of rewording this definition of stride length in this article would be heel strike transition to toe-off. The reasoning for this is that the first part of the definition states “from initial contact” which would be the heel strike. The second part of the statement says “ to lift-off of one limb” which would be the toe off. d) What happens to “stride length symmetry” during the adaptation and post adaptation periods? [3 points] Stride length overall decreases during the “stride length symmetry”. During the adaption phase of the experiment, the subject was able to adapt to the different speeds on the left and right sides of the treadmill. Initially, the walking pattern was awkward and looked like a limp with the right foot going faster than the left. After a couple of minutes, the limping motion started to

look more and more symmetrical. During the post-adaptation, the treadmill now goes back to the original speed. The participant again in the initial portion of the walk has trouble adjusting to the new speed for a couple minutes.

Task 2 [10 points] a) Based on 1a), why can split-belt treadmill walking be useful for individuals poststroke? [4 points] Split-belt treadmill walking can be useful for individuals post-stroke because applying the principles of split-belt treadmill walking adaptations can lead to short term improvements in step length asymmetry. Post-stroke participants demonstrated the ability to adjust stride length while on a split-belt treadmill temporarily, which indicates that post-stroke patients are able to retain the ability to maintain a symmetrical walking pattern and can apply this technique during rehabilitation to further improve results. b) Describe the details of the split-belt treadmill walking training in Reisman et al. 2013. [2 points] The split-belt treadmill walking training program consisted of participants who sustained a unilateral stroke more than 6 months prior to the training. The training program collected data on gait analysis. The participants trained three days a week for four weeks with sessions lasting one hour. The participants walked on a split-belt treadmill in six 5 minute bouts for a total of 30 minutes on the treadmill. Heart rate and RPE were collected during certain time increments of the training and blood pressure and heart rate were monitored during resting periods. The two leg belts were set to a fast speed and the other half of the fast speed. The intensity of the belts were not increased during the training because the goal of this training was to determine if repeated exposure to split-belt walking would improve step length asymmetry and not improve walking speed. c) Describe the leg-belt speed configuration and the speed, during the training [2 points] The leg-belt configuration was picked so that the participants gait asymmetry was exaggerated. The fast belt was matched to the participants fast walking speed and the slow belt was half the speed of the fast belt. d) What do you think could explain responder/non-responder differences between individuals post-stroke? [2 points] One thing that could explain responder/non-responder differences between individuals poststroke is the severity of the stroke endured by the participants. Someone who suffered a more severe stroke may have less improvements in step asymmetry compared to someone who suffered a less severe stroke and have more improvements in step asymmetry.

Task 3 [10 points] How?

a) Generally, the cerebellum is thought to play an important role in motor adaptation. What do we know about split-belt adaptation in individuals with cerebellar damage? [4 points] The cerebellum plays a role in gait correction by comparing the intended leg movements with the actual leg movements via. Sensory information from the state of the spinal pattern generating circuits. Individuals with cerebellar damage do not not adapt to split belt walking even after practice. This is unlike a person with a normal functioning cerebellum, who would adapt after a period of time on the split belt treadmill. b) Generally, somatosensory information from the legs is thought to play a role in split-belt adaptation. What do we know about split-belt adaptation in individuals with unilateral trans-tibial amputation? [3 points] Limb symmetry plays an important role in the gait cycle, especially with energy consumption. Amputees have a slower walking pace and consume more energy when walking. When it comes to split belt walking, amputees are able to adapt to split belt walking. The only difference between split belt amputees and people with two legs/feet is that there will be a longer adaptation phase for amputees. c) When individuals go through an adaptation period of split-belt walking, will we see aftereffects during running? [2 points] Treadmill running does not produce the same reorganization as does walking. This signifies that the adaptations we see in split belt walking is specific to the central pattern generators used for walking. d) When individuals go through an adaptation period of split-belt walking, will we see aftereffects during backwards walking? [1 point] We will not see the same adaptations in backwards walking in split belt walking as we see in forward walking.

Task 4 [13 points] Why? During the adaptation period, individuals display gradual changes in some gait parameters. Give 2 potential reasons why we do not just keep walking as we do during the first few steps on the split-belt treadmill, and for each describe a study that looked into this. [13 points] One reason we do not just keep walking as we do during the first few steps on the splitbelt treadmill is due to operant reinforcement of the new movement (Huang, et al., 2011). A study by Huang et al. looked at learning processes for motor learning. They argued that a repeated action with a decrease in error will increase the likelihood that the movement will occur (Huang et al., 2011). They completed three experiments that examined this relationship between repetition and adaptation. In this study, they had two groups complete a visuomotor rotation task and manipulated ways in which they completed the task after the original training (Huang, et al., 2011). They found that through operant reinforcement there can be adaptation to a perturbation (Huang, et al., 2011). Another reason we do not just keep walking as we do during the first few steps on the split-belt treadmill is because the central nervous system is able to adapt to the changes in the

environment (Vasudevan and Bastian, 2010). A study by Vasudevan and Bastian, examined the relationship between neural plasticity and different walking speeds. They had walking groups on a split-belt treadmill that walked at a variety of speeds to see the aftereffects (Vasudevan and Bastian, 2010). They found that the aftereffects were greatest when the participants went at the “slow” speed (Vasudevan and Bastian, 2010). One theory on the reason behind this is because the cerebellum receives signals from several pathways and there is a difference in the predictive movements between the variety of speeds (Vasudevan and Bastian, 2010).

Task 5 [7 points] Who? a) Could split-belt treadmill training be useful for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease? What have studies found? [3 points] Split-belt treadmill training can be beneficial for certain individuals affected by Parkinson’s Disease. Those with less severe symptoms are able to mimic similar adaptations to split-belt training that are seen in healthy individuals. Compared to conditions that were not perturbed, participants with Parkinson’s Disease showed much greater results in establishing normal gait patterns in split-belt training (Klamroth et al., 2016). However, people that experience freezing of gait are not able to adapt their gait pattern readily enough for split-belt training to be considered beneficial (Seuthe et al., 2019). b) Could split-belt treadmill training be useful for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis? Why / why not? [2 points] Since multiple sclerosis (MS) leads to many issues in maintaining a normal gait pattern, it is possible that split-belt training could help people with MS improve gait functionality. Split-belt treadmill training could help to target specific lower limb weaknesses including drop-foot that occurs as a result of MS, and may help to control other certain irregular gait patterns. Since MS is a degenerative nerve disorder, patients that experience severe balance and spasticity issues may not completely benefit from split-belt training, however those experiencing less physical symptoms may still have the ability to react similarly to healthy individuals (Cameron and Wagner, 2011). c) What other patient populations could benefit from split-belt treadmill training? Why? [2 points] Patient populations that suffer from neurological symptoms similar to that of post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease may benefit from split-belt treadmill training. Any disorder in which normal gait patterns and balance are affected, including cerebral palsy or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, could potentially be benefited through split-belt training. Split-belt training can help to re-align a person’s irregular gait pattern through specific targeting of issues that can help a patient to regain normal stride length and symmetric gait patterns, depending on the severity of the condition....