Many theories of motor control suggest that we select our movements to reduce energy use. However, it is unclear whether this process underlies short-term adaptation novel environments. Here asked walking on a split-belt treadmill leads more economical pattern. We hypothesized would be accompanied by reduction in metabolic power and muscle activity these reductions temporally correlated. Eleven individuals performed task where the belt speeds were set at 0.5 1.5 m s(-1). Adaptation was...

Virtual reality (VR) has recently been explored as a tool for neurorehabilitation to enable individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) practice challenging skills in safe environment. Current technological advances have enabled the use of affordable, fully immersive head-mounted displays (HMDs) potential therapeutic applications. However, while previous studies used HMDs PD, these were only short bouts walking. Clinical applications VR gait training would likely involve an extended exposure...

Background. Step length asymmetry (SLA) is a common hallmark of gait poststroke. Though conventionally viewed as spatial deficit, SLA can result from differences in where the feet are placed relative to body (step position strategy), timing between foot strikes time or velocity strategy). Objective. The goal this study was characterize contributions each these strategies SLA. Methods. We developed an analytical model that parses into independent step position, time, and contributions. This...

The neuromotor system generates flexible motor patterns that can adapt to changes in our bodies or environment and also take advantage of assistance provided by the environment. We ask how energy minimization influences adaptive learning during human locomotion improve economy when walking on a split-belt treadmill. use model-based approach predict people should adjust their pattern treadmill, we validate these predictions empirically. show adaptation treadmill be explained as process which...

Normative values are lacking for daily quantity of infant leg movements. This is critical understanding the relationship between movements and onset independent walking, will begin to inform early therapy intervention infants at risk developmental delay.We used wearable inertial movement sensors record full-day activity from 12 with typical development, ages 1-12 months. Each was tested three times across 5 months, followed until walking. We developed validated an algorithm identify...

Split-belt treadmill adaptation can be seen as a process where people learn to acquire positive work from the reduce energetic cost. Though we know what should do cost, this strategy is not observed during studies. We extended duration of and show that continuously adapt their gait This requires longer exposure than traditionally allotted.

Virtual reality (VR) is a potentially promising tool for enhancing real-world locomotion in individuals with mobility impairment through its ability to provide personalized performance feedback and simulate challenges. However, it unknown whether novel locomotor skills learned VR show sustained transfer the real world. Here, as an initial step towards developing VR-based clinical intervention, we study how young adults learn treadmill-based virtual obstacle negotiation skill world.On Day 1,...

The theory that the sensorimotor system minimizes energetic cost during locomotion has long been supported by both computational models and empirical studies. However, it yet to be determined if behavior which people converge when exposed a novel perturbation is also energetically optimal. We address this issue in context of adaptation walking on split-belt treadmill, can impose left-right asymmetry step lengths. In response asymmetry, participants gradually adjust their foot placement adopt...

Stroke survivors often have a slow, asymmetric walking pattern. They also walk with higher metabolic cost than healthy, age-matched controls. It is assumed that spatial-temporal asymmetries contribute to the increased of poststroke. However, elucidating this relationship made challenging because interdependence between asymmetries, speed, and cost. Here, we address these potential confounds by measuring speed-dependent changes in implementing recently developed approach dissociate spatial...

Neuromotor impairments resulting from natural aging and aging-related diseases are often accompanied by a heightened prevalence of falls fall-related injuries. Conventionally, the study factors contributing to focuses on intrinsic characteristics, such as sensorimotor processing delays weakness, extrinsic factors, environmental obstacles. However, impact these only becomes evident in response people’s decisions about how where they will move their environment. This decision-making process...

Abstract Falls, which often result from trips or slips, pose a major health concern, particularly among older adults. Experiencing falls near-falls balance disturbances can shape subsequent gait-related decisions, as individuals may avoid situations they perceive risky. Here, we explore whether perceptions of risk are sensitive to the direction previously experienced – forward backward and these change with age. Twenty young twenty adults walked on split-belt treadmill while performing...

Biomechanical gait impairments, such as reduced paretic propulsion, are common post-stroke. Studies have used biofeedback to increase propulsion and reduce asymmetry, but it is unclear if these changes impact overall asymmetry. There an implicit assumption that reducing asymmetry will improve symmetry, has been related numerous biomechanical impairments. However, no work investigated the of on We aimed understand how within-session in affect individuals post-stroke, operationalized combined...

People poststroke often walk with a spatiotemporally asymmetric gait, due in part to sensorimotor impairments the paretic lower extremity. Although reducing asymmetry is common objective of rehabilitation, effects improving symmetry on balance are yet be determined.We established concurrent validity whole-body angular momentum as measure balance, and we determined if step length would improve by decreasing momentum.We performed clinical assessments measured during walking using full-body...

Visual input provides vital information for helping us modify our walking pattern. For example, artificial optic flow can drive changes in step length during locomotion and may also be useful augmenting locomotor training individuals with gait asymmetries. Here we asked whether could the acquisition of a symmetric pattern split-belt treadmill adaptation. Participants walked on while watching virtual scene that produced flow. Stance Congruent group, moved at slow belt speed foot strike then...

Changes in the control of lower extremities poststroke lead to persistent biomechanical asymmetries during walking. These are associated with an increase energetic cost, leading possibility that reducing asymmetry can improve walking economy. However, influence on economy may depend direction and cause asymmetry. For example, impairments paretic limb advancement result shorter steps, whereas deficits support or propulsion nonparetic steps. Given differences underlying responsible for step...

Severe impairment of limb movement after stroke can be challenging to address in the chronic stage (e.g., greater than 6 months post stroke). Recent evidence suggests that physical therapy still promote meaningful recovery this stage, but required high amount is difficult deliver within scope standard clinical practice. Digital gaming technologies are now being combined with brain–computer interfaces motivate engaging and frequent exercise neural recovery. However, complexity expense...

People post-stroke have an increased risk of falls compared to neurotypical individuals, partly resulting from inability generate appropriate reactions restore balance. However, few studies investigated the effect paretic deficits on mechanics reactive control strategies following forward losses balance during walking. Here, we characterized biomechanical consequences perturbations induced by treadmill belt accelerations. Thirty-eight participants and thirteen age-matched speed-matched...

Gait training at fast speeds is recommended to reduce walking activity limitations post-stroke. Fast may also gait kinematic impairments However, it unknown if differences in kinematics between people post-stroke and neurotypical adults decrease when faster speeds.

Control of foot placement is an essential strategy for maintaining balance during walking. During unperturbed, steady-state walking, can be accurately described as a linear function the body's centre mass (CoM) state at midstance. However, it uncertain if this mapping from CoM to generalizes larger perturbations that could potentially cause falls. Recovery these may require reactive control strategies not observed unperturbed Here, we used unpredictable changes in treadmill belt speed assess...

Hemiparesis, defined as unilateral muscle weakness, often occurs in people post-stroke or with cerebral palsy, however it is difficult to understand how this hemiparesis affects movement patterns presents alongside a variety of other neuromuscular impairments. Predictive musculoskeletal modeling an opportunity investigate impairments affect gait performance assuming particular cost function. Here, we use predictive simulation quantify the spatiotemporal asymmetries and changes metabolic that...