Corticospinal Control of a Challenging Ankle Task in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Assessment of Dorsiflexion Ability across Tasks in Persons with Subacute SCI after Combined Locomotor Training and Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation

“…Moreover, this relationship did not change in T4, although some participants received active TSS (Figure 4). There has been recent evidence that corticospinal tract descending drive during a complex ankle control task is associated with walking outcomes [26]. Additionally, although dorsiflexors do not require conscious input during walking, there is evidence that descending supraspinal drive influences walking [24,35].…”

“…Beyond examining the influence of TSS on ankle control, it is important to understand whether there is greater preservation of dorsiflexion as part of the pattern of walking compared to during an isolated, volitional motor task. Although previous studies in persons with SCI have attempted to examine the relationship between volitional activation of the dorsiflexors during a task and walking outcomes [24][25][26], the contribution of ankle dorsiflexors during the swing phase in these improvements has yet to be identified. For instance, in a study that examined the relationship between corticospinal tract descending drive to the tibialis anterior and dorsiflexion during the swing phase, toe clearance and ankle excursion were calculated [24].…”