1. Altering gait symmetry using an asymmetric visual cue
- Author
-
Meder, Krista Grace, NC DOCKS at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Meder, Krista Grace, and NC DOCKS at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Abstract
Gait asymmetries are a common problem for clinical populations—such as stroke survivors and people with Parkinson’s disease—and are associated with increased gait instability and fall risk. Current methods to alter gait asymmetries rely heavily on split-belt treadmill training. Gait training using visual cues projected on a screen or in immersive virtual reality have been shown to produce greater improvements in gait asymmetries relative to traditional treadmill training alone. However, it is unclear the extent to which gait asymmetries can be systematically altered using an asymmetric visual cue, which represents a more cost-effective strategy relative to split-belt treadmill training or immersive virtual reality. Investigating whether using a visual asymmetric cue can alter gait symmetry in healthy adults is the first step in determining if this methodology is plausible for future research with clinical populations. The purpose of this dissertation was threefold: (1) to examine the extent to which healthy adults can synchronize to an asymmetric visual cue during treadmill walking; (2) to explore if the asymmetric walking pattern is retained once the visual cue is removed; and (3) to examine transfer of the asymmetric walking pattern to overground walking after the treadmill training session. Seventy-two healthy participants (age 23.89 ± 6.08 years) were enrolled in this study and quasi-randomized into four experimental groups (N = 64) or the control group (N = 8). All participants completed questionnaires related to health history/demographics, limb dominance, and physical activity. All groups completed three 10-minute walking sessions with wearable sensors (APDM Inc., Portland, OR) to record spatiotemporal gait measures. The first session was the same for all groups and consisted of walking at their self-selected speed on the treadmill. For session two, experimental groups 1 and 2 attempted to synchronize their gait to a visual cue (i.e., walking stick figure) ex
- Published
- 2023