Thota A, Carlson S, Jung R
Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506-0070, USA.
Biomed Sci Instrum. 2001;37:63-7.
Our long-term goal is to formulate and assess functional methodologies to enhance recovery of locomotor function in human subjects after incomplete Spinal Cord Contusion Injury (iSCI). This methodology could consist of locomotor training by active treadmill walking. Here, we present kinematic analysis of limb movements in rats with iSCI that have undergone treadmill-walking training. Video images were recorded during treadmill walking of iSCI rats at different intervals from 2 weeks to 24 weeks post injury and in age matched rats without injury. A kinematic analysis program was used to acquire the data, which was further analyzed using Matlab routines. Joint angles were analyzed using cross-covariance and limit cycles. In addition, the maximum flexion and extension and range of motion (ROM) determined. 2 weeks post iSCI the ankle was overextended, the hip under flexed, and ROM of the knee severely reduced thereby leading to disoriented gait. The phase-shift between the hip and knee joints observed in uninjured rats during treadmill walking was absent in the iSCI rats. Treadmill training improved hip flexion and ankle overextension. Knee ROM continued to be deteriorated. The treadmill training eventually led to recovery of coordinated locomotor function after 7 weeks, albeit with deformities in gait. This recovery of locomotor function occurred in spite of significant loss of axonal connections between the brain and the spinal lumbar segments at site of injury (assessed by histology after terminal data collection). The results suggest that functional recovery of locomotion could be an activity dependent process.
我们的长期目标是制定并评估功能性方法，以提高人类不完全性脊髓挫伤损伤（iSCI）后运动功能的恢复。这种方法可能包括主动在跑步机上行走进行运动训练。在此，我们展示了接受跑步机行走训练的iSCI大鼠肢体运动的运动学分析。在iSCI大鼠受伤后2周、24周的不同时间间隔以及年龄匹配的未受伤大鼠在跑步机上行走期间记录视频图像。使用运动学分析程序获取数据，并使用Matlab程序进一步分析。使用互协方差和极限环分析关节角度。此外，确定最大屈伸度和运动范围（ROM）。iSCI后2周，踝关节过度伸展，髋关节屈曲不足，膝关节ROM严重降低，从而导致步态紊乱。在跑步机行走期间，未受伤大鼠中观察到的髋关节和膝关节之间的相移在iSCI大鼠中不存在。跑步机训练改善了髋关节屈曲和踝关节过度伸展。膝关节ROM持续恶化。跑步机训练最终在7周后导致协调运动功能的恢复，尽管步态存在畸形。尽管在损伤部位大脑与脊髓腰段之间的轴突连接显著丧失（在收集最终数据后通过组织学评估），但运动功能仍得以恢复。结果表明，运动功能的恢复可能是一个依赖活动的过程。
