The effects of light touch on gait and dynamic balance during normal and tandem walking in individuals with an incomplete spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional study OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of adding haptic input during walking in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).

SETTING

Research laboratory.

METHODS

Participants with iSCI and age- and sex-matched able-bodied (AB) individuals walked normally (SCI n = 18, AB n = 17) and in tandem (SCI n = 12, AB n = 17). Haptic input was added through light touch on a railing. Step parameters, and mediolateral and anterior-posterior margins of stability (means and standard deviations) were calculated. Surface electromyography data were collected bilaterally from the tibialis anterior (TA), soleus (SOL), and gluteus medius (GMED) and integrated over a stride. Repeated measures ANOVAs examined within- and between-group differences (α = 0.05). Cutaneous and proprioceptive sensation of individuals with iSCI were correlated to changes in outcome measures that were affected by haptic input.

RESULTS

When walking normally, adding haptic input decreased stride velocity, step width, stride length, MOS, MOS_SD, MOS, and MOS_SD, and increased GMED activity on the limb opposite the railing. During tandem walking, haptic input had no effect; however, individuals with iSCI had a larger step width SD and MOS_SD compared with the AB group. Sensory abilities of individuals with iSCI were not correlated to any of the outcome measures that significantly changed with added haptic input.

CONCLUSIONS

Added haptic input improved balance control during normal but not in tandem walking. Sensory abilities did not impact the use of added haptic input during walking.