Biomechanics Research

KEY FINDING: Stroke patients showed prolonged stance time on the non-paretic side and prolonged swing time on the paretic side, particularly at lower gait speeds.

KEY FINDING: Unloading affected walking velocity, joint ranges of motion, vertical ground reaction force parameters and myoelectric activity in all investigated muscles for stair ascent and descent.

KEY FINDING: Individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) had a 53% poorer ankle proprioceptive threshold during gait compared to nondisabled (ND) controls.

KEY FINDING: Experiments indicate that an MIF of the 50% able-bodied values commonly used is significantly lower than the identified estimates in 33 of 44 muscle groups tested.

KEY FINDING: Mechanical impingement was observed during scapular plane elevation and propulsion, but not during pressure relief maneuvers in most participants.

KEY FINDING: The proposed neuroprosthesis was able to generate individually fitted stimulation patterns for three of the participants with incomplete SCI.

KEY FINDING: The musculoskeletal computer model accurately replicated experimental canine angular kinematics associated with gait.

KEY FINDING: Body weight support, in general, leads to gait alterations such as increased step length and swing phase.

KEY FINDING: Patients in the GEAR group showed significant improvement in FIM-walk score and SIAS-L/E score at discharge compared to post-training, indicating improved motor skills and functional gait.

KEY FINDING: Stroke survivors with knee extensor spasticity use a short-step strategy before the obstacle to enhance accuracy and maintain stability.