Scientific Reports, 2018 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18293-y · Published: January 3, 2018
After a spinal cord injury (SCI), the body relies more on sensory feedback from the legs to control movement. Therapies often focus on guiding leg movements to enhance this feedback. This study investigates the impact of trunk posture, which is often overlooked, on restoring movement after SCI. Researchers developed a robotic system to control trunk posture in rats with severe SCI. They found that adjusting the trunk's position improved balance and symmetry in leg movements. This suggests that trunk control is important for optimizing rehabilitation. The study also used computer simulations to understand how trunk posture affects sensory feedback from leg muscles. They found that proper trunk alignment helps balance the signals from muscles that flex and extend the legs, leading to better stepping quality.
The study suggests that incorporating trunk postural control into gait rehabilitation protocols for humans with SCI could improve outcomes.
The findings can inform the development of assistive devices that regulate trunk posture in real-time to enhance locomotor performance.
The research highlights the importance of proprioceptive feedback circuits in locomotor recovery and suggests new avenues for therapeutic intervention.