Modulation of the gait pattern during split-belt locomotion after lateral spinal cord hemisection in adult cats
Charly G. Lecomte, Stephen Mari, Johannie Audet, Angèle N. Merlet, Jonathan Harnie, Claudie Beaulieu, Khaled Abdallah, Louis Gendron, Ilya A. Rybak, Boris I. Prilutsky, Alain Frigon
Abstract
Everyday locomotion often involves left-right asymmetries, when turning, walking along circular paths, stepping on uneven terrains, etc. To show how incomplete spinal cord injury affects locomotor control in asymmetric conditions, we collected data before and after a thoracic lateral spinal hemisection on a split-belt treadmill with one side stepping faster than the other. We show that adjustments in kinematics and muscle activity allowed cats to retain the ability to perform asymmetric locomotion after hemisection.
Topics & Concepts
HindlimbGaitTreadmillSpinal cord injuryPhysical medicine and rehabilitationCATSSpinal cordAnatomyElectromyographyKinematicsSTRIDEMedicineNeurosciencePsychologyPhysicsPhysical therapyInternal medicineClassical mechanicsSpinal Cord Injury ResearchVeterinary Orthopedics and NeurologyCerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders