Bondi Moshe, Zeilig Gabi, Bloch Ayala, Fasano Alfonso, Plotnik Meir
Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
J Neurophysiol. 2017 Aug 1;118(2):1021-1033. doi: 10.1152/jn.00130.2017. Epub 2017 May 10.
Human locomotion is defined by bilateral coordination of gait (BCG) and shared features with the fore-hindlimb coordination of quadrupeds. The objective of the present study is to explore the influence of arm swinging (AS) on BCG. Sixteen young, healthy individuals (eight women; eight right motor-dominant, eight left-motor dominant) participated. Participants performed 10 walking trials (2 min). In each of the trials AS was unilaterally manipulated (e.g., arm restriction, weight on the wrist), bilaterally manipulated, or not manipulated. The order of trials was random. Walking trials were performed on a treadmill. Gait kinematics were recorded by a motion capture system. Using feedback-controlled belt speed allowed the participants to walk at a self-determined gait speed. Effects of the manipulations were assessed by AS amplitudes and the phase coordination index (PCI), which quantifies the left-right anti-phased stepping pattern. Most of the AS manipulations caused an increase in PCI values (i.e., reduced lower limb coordination). Unilateral AS manipulation had a reciprocal effect on the AS amplitude of the other arm such that, for example, over-swinging of the right arm led to a decrease in the AS amplitude of the left arm. Side of motor dominance was not found to have a significant impact on PCI and AS amplitude. The present findings suggest that lower limb BCG is markedly influenced by the rhythmic AS during walking. It may thus be important for gait rehabilitation programs targeting BCG to take AS into account. Control mechanisms for four-limb coordination in human locomotion are not fully known. To study the influence of arm swinging (AS) on bilateral coordination of the lower limbs during walking, we introduced a split-AS paradigm in young, healthy adults. AS manipulations caused deterioration in the anti-phased stepping pattern and impacted the AS amplitudes for the contralateral arm, suggesting that lower limb coordination is markedly influenced by the rhythmic AS during walking.
人类运动由步态的双侧协调（BCG）以及与四足动物前后肢协调的共同特征所定义。本研究的目的是探讨摆臂（AS）对BCG的影响。16名年轻健康个体（8名女性；8名右利手，8名左利手）参与了研究。参与者进行了10次步行试验（2分钟）。在每次试验中，AS被单侧操控（例如，限制手臂摆动、在手腕上施加重量）、双侧操控或不进行操控。试验顺序是随机的。步行试验在跑步机上进行。步态运动学由动作捕捉系统记录。使用反馈控制的皮带速度使参与者能够以自主确定的步态速度行走。通过AS幅度和相位协调指数（PCI）评估操控的效果，PCI量化左右反相步行动态模式。大多数AS操控导致PCI值增加（即下肢协调性降低）。单侧AS操控对另一只手臂的AS幅度有相反的影响，例如，右臂过度摆动会导致左臂AS幅度减小。未发现运动优势侧对PCI和AS幅度有显著影响。目前的研究结果表明，步行过程中下肢BCG受到有节奏的AS的显著影响。因此，对于针对BCG的步态康复计划而言，考虑AS可能很重要。人类运动中四肢协调的控制机制尚不完全清楚。为了研究步行过程中摆臂（AS）对下肢双侧协调的影响，我们在年轻健康成年人中引入了一种分侧AS范式。AS操控导致反相步行动态模式恶化，并影响对侧手臂的AS幅度，这表明步行过程中下肢协调性受到有节奏的AS的显著影响。
