We examined changes in the motor organization of postural control in response to continuous, variable amplitude oscillations evoked by a translating platform and explored whether these changes reflected implicit sequence learning. The platform underwent random amplitude (maximum ± 15 cm) and constant frequency (0.5 Hz) oscillations. Each trial was composed of three 15-second segments containing seemingly random oscillations. Unbeknownst to participants, the middle segment was repeated in each of 42 trials on the first day of testing and in an additional seven trials completed approximately 24 hours later. Kinematic data were used to determine spatial and temporal components of total body centre of mass (COM) and joint segment coordination. Results showed that with repeated trials, participants reduced the magnitude of horizontal body COM displacement, shifted from a COM phase lag to a phase lead relative to platform motion and increased correlations between ankle/platform motion and hip/platform motion as they evolved from an ankle strategy to a multi-segment control strategy involving the ankle and hip. Maintenance of these changes across days provided evidence for learning. Similar improvements for the random and repeated segments, however, indicate that participants did not exploit the sequence of perturbations to improve balance control. Rather, the central nervous system (CNS) may have been tuning into more general features of platform motion. These findings provide important insight into the generalizabilty of improved compensatory balance control with training.jsfrank@uwindsor.ca,

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Objective:Walking assessment is an important aspect of rehabilitation practice; yet, clinicians have few psychometrically sound options for evaluating walking in highly ambulatory children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of two new measures of walking function—the Obstacles and Curb tests—relative to the 10-Meter Walk test and Timed Up and Go test in children with spina bifida or cerebral palsy.Methods:A total of 16 ambulatory children with spina bifida (n=9) or cerebral palsy (n=7) (9 boys; mean age 7years, 7months; standard deviation 3years, 4months) and 16 age- and gender-matched typically developing children participated. Children completed the walking tests, at both self-selected and fast speeds, twice. To evaluate discriminative validity, scores were compared between typically developing and spina bifida/cerebral palsy groups. Within the spina bifida/cerebral palsy group, inter-test correlations evaluated convergent validity and intraclass correlation coefficients evaluated within-session test–retest reliability.Results:At fast speeds, all tests showed discriminative validity (p<0.006 for typically developing and spina bifida/cerebral palsy comparisons) and convergent validity (rho=0.81–0.90, p⩽0.001, for inter-test correlations). At self-selected speeds, only the Obstacles test discriminated between groups (p=0.001). Moderately strong correlations (rho=0.73–0.78, p⩽0.001) were seen between the 10-Meter Walk test, Curb test, and Timed Up and Go test. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.97, with higher test–retest reliability for tests performed at fast speeds rather than self-selected speeds.Conclusion:The Obstacles and Curb tests are promising measures for assessing walking in this population. Performing tests at fast walking speeds may improve their validity and test–retest reliability for children with spina bifida/cerebral palsy.

An unexpected slip during gait termination results in a generalised slip response designed to regain stability and prevent a fall. With knowledge of and experience with a slippery surface, locomotor behaviour adapts to proactively diminish the effect of the slip and improve the reactive control during the slip. Our purpose was to examine the organisation of the adaptation to a slippery surface during gait termination. After receiving an unexpected slip during gait termination, participants (N = 8) experienced cued gait termination trials in which they were given knowledge of the surface characteristics (i.e., slippery or non-slippery). The observed strategy used to repeatedly stop on a slippery surface involves proactively diminishing the size of the slip perturbation through a flattened foot at heel contact, anterior shift of the COM, shorter step, stance leg extension and swing limb slowing, as well as improving the reaction to the slippery surface through decreased muscle activity and an appropriate decrease in the braking force generation. The implications of this research are that a combination of knowledge of and experience with a slippery surface enables proactive and reactive adjustments in behaviour to effectively and more safely stop walking on a slippery surface.