@article{ref1,
title="Walking stability during normal walking and its association with slip intensity among individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury",
journal="PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation",
year="2019",
author="Arora, Tarun and Musselman, Kristin E. and Lanovaz, Joel and Linassi, Gary and Arnold, Catherine and Milosavljevic, Stephan and Oates, Alison",
volume="11",
number="3",
pages="270-277",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Ambulatory individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) experience frequent falls suggesting impairments in their balance control. Individuals with iSCI are more stable during normal walking as compared to able-bodied individuals; however, it is not known whether this increased stability helps prevent hazardous slips. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: Compare walking stability during normal walking between iSCI and able-bodied individuals, and to study the association between stability during normal walking and the intensity of an unexpected slip perturbation. <br><br>DESIGN: Cross-sectional SETTING: University of *********** PARTICIPANTS: Twenty iSCI (15 males; age: M=60.05, SD=17.77 years) and 16 (12 males; age: M=58.92, SD=17.10 years) able-bodied (AB) individuals. <br><br>METHODS: Stability measures during unperturbed walking at a self-selected speed were collected from all the participants. Additionally, stability measures were also collected from 10 of the AB participants walking at a slower speed. An unexpected slip perturbation was recorded in all participants during a self-selected speed trial and peak-slip heel velocity post slip was recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Measures of stability: ankle co-contraction, required coefficient of friction, walking velocity, foot angle, antero-posterior margin of stability, percentage double support, step length and width were compared between - iSCI, AB-self selected, and AB-slow walking groups. Associations between slip intensity, indicated by peak post-slip heel velocity, and stability measures were also examined through correlation analysis. <br><br>RESULTS: Individuals with iSCI, walked slower, took shorter steps, and spent a greater percentage of time in double support compared to AB individuals walking at a self-selected pace (p<.01). Slower walking velocity was correlated with slower post-slip velocity in participants with iSCI (p=.01) only. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with iSCI walk with greater stability than AB individuals during unperturbed walking due to a lower self-selected speed, which appears to reduce the intensity of an unexpected slip perturbation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1934-1482",
doi="10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.07.012",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2018.07.012"
}