Advisor Information
Mukul Mukherjee
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
3-3-2017 2:15 PM
End Date
3-3-2017 3:30 PM
Abstract
Walking seems to be an undemanding task; however, it requires a complex ability to adapt to changing environments. Our body relies on feedback from several sensory systems: visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular. When these systems conflict, the body relies primarily on visual feedback. Asymmetrical walking patterns, in both the spatial (i.e. step length) and temporal (i.e. step time) components may result from aging and disease. Learning how vision contributes to adapting to an asymmetrical walking pattern may prove useful in rehabilitating patients with asymmetric walking patterns. Twenty healthy, young adults participated in this study and were separated into two groups, virtual reality (VR) and non-virtual reality (NVR). Each subject had approximately 5% of their body weight attached to their left leg via an ankle weight and performed four treadmill trials: familiarization, baseline, limb loading, and wash out. A 3-way mixed model ANOVA was used for analysis and showed that optic flow did not produce a significant difference in the rate of adaptation to an asymmetrical walking pattern. However, unilateral limb loading affected both the spatial and temporal components. During late-adaptation, the spatial component returns to symmetry while the temporal component remained asymmetrical indicating that the temporal component was altered to maintain spatial symmetry. Removing the ankle weight reversed the direction of asymmetry. Limb loading affects symmetry differently for the temporal and spatial components; therefore, limb loading could be used during rehabilitation as long as precautions are taken to ensure that the temporal and spatial aspects of walking are being targeted correctly.
The Effects of Optic Flow on Locomotor Symmetry
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Walking seems to be an undemanding task; however, it requires a complex ability to adapt to changing environments. Our body relies on feedback from several sensory systems: visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular. When these systems conflict, the body relies primarily on visual feedback. Asymmetrical walking patterns, in both the spatial (i.e. step length) and temporal (i.e. step time) components may result from aging and disease. Learning how vision contributes to adapting to an asymmetrical walking pattern may prove useful in rehabilitating patients with asymmetric walking patterns. Twenty healthy, young adults participated in this study and were separated into two groups, virtual reality (VR) and non-virtual reality (NVR). Each subject had approximately 5% of their body weight attached to their left leg via an ankle weight and performed four treadmill trials: familiarization, baseline, limb loading, and wash out. A 3-way mixed model ANOVA was used for analysis and showed that optic flow did not produce a significant difference in the rate of adaptation to an asymmetrical walking pattern. However, unilateral limb loading affected both the spatial and temporal components. During late-adaptation, the spatial component returns to symmetry while the temporal component remained asymmetrical indicating that the temporal component was altered to maintain spatial symmetry. Removing the ankle weight reversed the direction of asymmetry. Limb loading affects symmetry differently for the temporal and spatial components; therefore, limb loading could be used during rehabilitation as long as precautions are taken to ensure that the temporal and spatial aspects of walking are being targeted correctly.