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Highlights: [•] We developed a test to assess response inhibition ability during gait adjustments. [•] Performance of healthy young adults was tested. [•] Inhibition ability decreases with increasing complexity of the task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We explain the calculation of spatial gait parameters for split-belt gait. [•] The definition of stride length in split-belt gait is problematic. [•] We argue that this measure should be referred to as ‘limb excursion’. [•] Using standard definitions, stride time can never be asymmetric when not turning. [•] Similarly, stride length can never be asymmetric when not turning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Necessary for effective ambulation, head stability affords optimal conditions for the perception of visual information during dynamic tasks. This maintenance of head-in-space equilibrium is achieved, in part, by the attenuation of the high frequency impact shock resulting from ground contact. While a great deal of experimentation has been done on the matter during steady state locomotion, little is known about how locomotor asymmetry might affect head stability or dynamic visual acuity. In this study, fifteen participants walked on a split-belt treadmill while verbally reporting the orientation of a randomized Landolt-C optotype that was projected at heel strike. Participants were exposed to baseline, adaptation, and washout conditions, as characterized by belt speed ratios of 1:1, 1:3, and 1:1, respectively. Step length asymmetry, shock attenuation, high and low frequency head signal power, and dynamic visual acuity were averaged across the first and last fifty strides of each condition. Across the first fifty strides, step length asymmetry was significantly greater during adaptation than during baseline (p < 0.001; d = 2.442), and shock attenuation was significantly lower during adaptation than during baseline (p = 0.041; d = -0.679). High frequency head signal power was significantly greater during adaptation than during baseline (p < 0.001; d = -1.227), indicating a reduction in head stability. While dynamic visual acuity was not significantly lower during adaptation than during baseline (p = 0.052), a moderate effect size suggests a decrease in the measure between the two conditions (d = 0.653). Across the last fifty strides, many of the decrements observed between the baseline and adaptation conditions were greatly reduced. The results of this study indicate that the locomotor asymmetry imposed by the split-belt treadmill during early adaptation might lead to moderate decrements in shock attenuation, head stability, and dynamic visual acuity. Moreover, the relative reduction in magnitude of these decrements across the last fifty strides underscores the adaptive nature of the locomotor and visuomotor systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with visual impairment (VI) have often been observed to walk slower than individuals with unimpaired vision. These observations might be confounded by typical low levels of physical activity and greater sedentary behavior in individuals with VI than the overall population.Research Question: Here, we compared gait and balance measures between individuals with VI who participate in disability sports, and activity level matched sighted individuals.Methods: We assessed static balance, anthropometry, self-selected walking speed, locomotion rehabilitation index, and lower limb muscular endurance; and applied physical activity level and fear of falling questionnaires.Results: Individuals with VI who participate in disability sports, self-selected a similar walking speed (1.29 ± 0.26 m/s) as active sighted individuals (1.39 ± 0.21 m/s). Locomotor rehabilitation index and muscular endurance of lower limbs were also similar between groups. Individuals with VI presented lower static balance (42.0 ± 17.0s) than the sighted control group (45.0 ± 0s) when the controls were tested with their eyes open. However, no difference was found when the controls were tested with their eyes closed (30.3 ± 17.0s). Furthermore, individuals with VI showed a greater fear of falling.Significance: In conclusion, individuals with VI who participate in disability sports, as goalball and football, walk with similar self-selected walking speeds as active sighted individuals, but have slightly worse static balance and fear of falling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]