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To test a mediational model that hypothesizes pain interference mediates the relationship between ambulatory status and depressive symptoms among participants with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Research Method/Design: Responses to the Brief Pain Index (pain interference) and the Older Adult Health and Mood Questionnaire (depressive symptoms) were obtained from 1,545 adults with SCI. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of clinically significant symptomatology and probable major depression as a function of independence in ambulation and to evaluate the extent to which pain interference mediated the relationship between ambulation and a depressive diagnosis. Results: Partially dependent ambulators reported significantly greater odds of clinically significant symptomatology (2.30) and probable major depression (2.00) compared with independent ambulators prior to evaluation of pain interference (comparisons of wheelchair users with independent ambulators were not significant). However, these relationships were no longer significant after controlling for pain interference. Conclusions/Implications: Pain interference appears to mediate the relationship between ambulatory status and depressive symptoms after SCI.

The majority of existing normative torque generation capability (torque capability for short) databases are reported in the form of torque as a function of joint angle. although it is well recognized that torque capability is a function of both the joint angular position and angular velocity. The main objective of this study was to develop the methodology of 3-D dynamic representation of torque capability using the ankle joint as an example. The ankle torque capability of 20 males and females was assessed at 5 levels of ankle joint angular positions and velocities in each direction of plantar and dorsi flexion. The ANOVA results indicated significant main effects of joint angular position, angular velocity, direction, and gender, in addition to the interaction effect of angular position and velocity (p < .003) on the torque capability of the ankle joint. The regression analysis indicated that an individualized quadratic surface response performed significantly belter than the models developed for each gender or the whole population using the coefficient of determination and standard error of the regression as criteria. Such 3-D representation of torque capability has a broad spectrum of applications ranging from rehabilitation and ergonomic to biomechanical applications.

This investigation assessed selected gait parameters of children with hemiparesis before and after participation in a modified constraint-induced movement therapy program (mCIMT). Recent advances in the understanding of the relationship between mCIMT and cortical reorganization supports the use of upper-extremity mCIMT to treat lower extremity deficits. However, the effects of mCIMT on the gait patterns of children with hemiparesis remain unclear. Twelve preschool children participated in a mCIMT program for 5 consecutive days, 6 h each day. Pre- and post-intervention data, on the temporal-spatial aspects of gait, were collected with the GAITRite walkway. Data were analyzed using a repeated measures generalized linear model. Base of support decreased significantly (p < 0.001) following treatment and improvements were noted in most other gait descriptors. The results of this study suggest that mCIMT can increase stability and improve the overall gait pattern. This study provides a new dimension in the effects of pediatric mCIMT programs and could begin to shift the focus of this intervention to remediation of lower extremity deficits. Additional studies with a longitudinal follow-up focus to determine the long-term effects of mCIMT on walking balance and stability would be beneficial.

Background Three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis is established in investigating, human pathological motion. In the field of gait, its use results in the objective identification of primary, and secondary causes of deviations, many current interventions are the result of pre- and post-testing, and it was shown recently that it can result in decreased number of surgeries and overall cost of care. Consequently, recent attempts have implemented 3D motion analysis using rat models to study, parkinsonism. However, to-date, a 3D user friendly analytical approach using rodent models to, identify etiologies of age-related motor impairment and accompanying pathologies has not been, implemented. New method We have developed and presented all aspects of a 3D, three body-segment rodent model, to analyze motions of the lower, upper and head segments between rodents of parkinsonism-type and, normal aging during free walking. Our model does not require transformation matrices to describe the, position of each body-segment. Because body-segment positions are not considered to consist of three, rotations about the laboratory axes, the rotations are not sequence dependent. Results Each body-segment demonstrated distinct 3D movement patterns. The parkinsonism-type, genotype walked slower with less range of motion, similarly to patients with parkinsonism. Comparison with existing methods This is the first model considering the rodent’s body as three, distinct segments. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first model to ever consider and report the 3D, head motion patterns. Conclusions This novel approach will allow unbiased analysis of spontaneous locomotion in mouse, models of parkinsonism or normal aging.