Effects of gait rehabilitation on motor coordination in stroke survivors: an UCM-based approach

Short-Term Effects of the Repeated Exposure to Trip-like Perturbations on Inter-Segment Coordination during Walking: An UCM Analysis

“…The results reported in this study further extend this conclusion, suggesting that the participants could proactively modify the coordination of all segments belonging to both the trailing and the leading limbs. This evidence confirms that the UCM theory is a promising tool for exploring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at purposely modifying motor behaviours, as also documented in earlier studies [12,24,30]. In addition, they suggest that the short-term effects of the repeated exposure to perturbations may involve a modified interaction between the bilateral neural structures leading lower limbrelated movements.…”

“…As an initial result, this study demonstrates that lower limb intersegmental coordination while walking is functionally structured to minimise the inter-stride MTC variability in accordance with the UCM theory (Ratio > 1). Notably, previous authors have dealt with different performance variables related to the swinging foot, such as mediolateral footpath trajectory [26][27][28][29], or whole 3D footpath [12,24], and reported slightly discordant outcomes [12]. Our findings, in conjunction with previous ones [12,24,[26][27][28][29], suggest that the central nervous system may aim at individually and flexibly stabilising the inter-stride variability of footpath components (e.g., mediolateral, vertical) during different periods of the swing phase.…”

“…Notably, previous authors have dealt with different performance variables related to the swinging foot, such as mediolateral footpath trajectory [26][27][28][29], or whole 3D footpath [12,24], and reported slightly discordant outcomes [12]. Our findings, in conjunction with previous ones [12,24,[26][27][28][29], suggest that the central nervous system may aim at individually and flexibly stabilising the inter-stride variability of footpath components (e.g., mediolateral, vertical) during different periods of the swing phase. This hypothesis deserves to be further investigated to gain a more general understanding concerning the organisation of inter-stride variability of lower limb body segments during the swing phase.…”

“…The following subsections will briefly recapitulate the procedures and methods already described elsewhere [9,12].…”

“…The algorithm adopted to implement the UCM analysis resembles that reported in our previous works [12,24]. Briefly, a 3D kinematics model of lower limbs, accounting for seven body segments (feet, shanks, thighs, and pelvis) and six spherical joints (hips, knees, and ankles) was developed, as shown in Figure 2.…”