Hirata Keisuke, Hanawa Hiroki, Miyazawa Taku, Kanemura Naohiko
Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Kasei University, 2-15-1 Inariyama, Sayama-shi, Saitama, 350-1398, Japan.
Graduate Course of Health and Social Services, Graduate School of Saitama Prefectural University, 820 Sannomiya, Koshigaya-shi, Saitama, 343-8540, Japan.
Exp Brain Res. 2025 Feb 6;243(3):61. doi: 10.1007/s00221-025-07006-x.
The split-belt treadmill task is an effective tool for studying walking adaptation, particularly the symmetry adaptation of spatiotemporal parameters such as step length and double support time. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between symmetry adaptation of spatiotemporal parameters and dynamic stability during the double-support phase in split-belt walking. We hypothesized that restraining fast-side knee extension, which is necessary for step lengthening during adaptation, would decrease dynamic stability during the double-support phase. Ten able-bodied male participants performed split-belt walking tasks under three conditions: control, fast-side knee restraint, and slow-side knee restraint. Our findings revealed that slow-side knee restraint disrupted symmetry in double support time and significantly decreased stability on the fast side during the early and late adaptation phases. Contrary to our hypothesis, fast-side knee restraint did not have a statistically significant effect on dynamic stability or symmetry. These results suggest that decreased dynamic stability during the double-support phase, particularly due to limitations in the movement of the trailing leg, may hinder the adaptation process. This study highlights the importance of dynamic stability control during the double-support phase for successful walking adaptation. Future studies with larger sample sizes and varying speed conditions are recommended to generalize these findings and develop targeted interventions to improve walking adaptability and dynamic stability.
分带跑步机任务是研究步行适应性的有效工具，尤其是步长和双支撑时间等时空参数的对称性适应。本研究旨在评估分带步行双支撑阶段时空参数的对称性适应与动态稳定性之间的关系。我们假设，抑制适应过程中步长延长所必需的快侧膝关节伸展，会降低双支撑阶段的动态稳定性。10名身体健全的男性参与者在三种条件下进行分带步行任务：对照、快侧膝关节约束和慢侧膝关节约束。我们的研究结果表明，慢侧膝关节约束破坏了双支撑时间的对称性，并在适应的早期和晚期显著降低了快侧的稳定性。与我们的假设相反，快侧膝关节约束对动态稳定性或对称性没有统计学上的显著影响。这些结果表明，双支撑阶段动态稳定性的降低，尤其是由于后腿运动受限，可能会阻碍适应过程。本研究强调了双支撑阶段动态稳定性控制对成功步行适应的重要性。建议未来进行更大样本量和不同速度条件的研究，以推广这些发现并制定有针对性的干预措施，以提高步行适应性和动态稳定性。
