Print  Close

Gait Biomechanics and Neuromuscular Adaptations in Patients with Partial Spinal Cord Injury

Poster No:

1581 

Submission Type:

Abstract Submission 

Authors:

Manish Gupta1, Bhavuk Garg2

Institutions:

1All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, New Delhi, 2All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, Delhi

First Author:

Manish Gupta  
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Delhi, New Delhi

Co-Author:

Bhavuk Garg, Professor  
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Delhi, Delhi

Introduction:

Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impacts motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, often resulting in gait impairments. The degree and nature of these impairments vary based on the level and severity of injury, with partial SCI posing unique challenges for mobility and independence. Instrumented 3D gait analysis provides an objective framework to evaluate spatiotemporal, kinematic, and neuromuscular changes during gait, enabling the development of targeted rehabilitation strategies. This study aims to analyse spatiotemporal, kinematic, and electromyographic (EMG) parameters of gait in patients with partial SCI, comparing them to healthy controls, to inform the design of personalized rehabilitation strategies for optimizing functional recovery.

Methods:

This prospective clinical study included 10 patients with partial SCI and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls after obtaining informed consent. Instrumented 3D gait analysis was performed using the SMART DX-7000 system (BTS Bioengineering, Milan, Italy). Data were collected preoperatively for healthy controls and six weeks postoperatively for SCI patients. A full-body marker protocol captured spatiotemporal and kinematic data (500 Hz), while synchronized EMG recorded muscle activation patterns. Joint centers were identified using anthropometric data and regression equations. Balance parameters, gait speed, cadence, step length, stride length, and angular kinematics of the trunk, pelvis, and lower limbs were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student's t-test to compare parameters between groups.

Results:

Significant deviations in gait biomechanics and muscle activity were observed in SCI patients compared to healthy controls. SCI patients demonstrated reduced gait speed (69%, p ≤ 0.001), cadence (38%, p ≤ 0.01), step length (right: 54%, left: 38%, p ≤ 0.01), and stride length (48%, p ≤ 0.01). Kinematic alterations included increased trunk tilt range (25° vs. 7°, p ≤ 0.01) and pelvis tilt range (28° vs. 10°, p ≤ 0.05), with decreased ankle plantarflexion range (8° vs. 16°, p ≤ 0.001), knee flexion range (42° vs. 64°, p ≤ 0.05), and hip extension range (0° vs. 12°, p ≤ 0.01). EMG analysis revealed heightened activity in the erector spinae (p ≤ 0.05), tibialis anterior (p ≤ 0.05), biceps femoris (p ≤ 0.05), and rectus femoris (p ≤ 0.05) during gait cycles.
Our findings highlight the profound biomechanical and neuromuscular alterations in SCI patients, suggesting compensatory mechanisms and muscle overactivation due to impaired motor control. The deviations in kinematics and EMG patterns emphasize the need for targeted rehabilitation strategies, including exercises to reduce pelvis tilt, improve ankle plantarflexion, increase knee flexion angles, and enhance hip extension. Muscle-strengthening interventions should aim to normalize muscle activation patterns and improve overall balance during gait.

Conclusions:

Our study underscores the utility of 3D gait analysis in identifying biomechanical and neuromuscular deficits in partial SCI patients. The insights gained provide a foundation for designing personalized rehabilitation programs to restore functional mobility and improve quality of life. These findings also set the stage for integrating neuroimaging approaches to further explore the neural mechanisms underlying gait recovery in SCI patients.

Modeling and Analysis Methods:

Methods Development 1
Other Methods

Motor Behavior:

Motor Behavior Other 2

Keywords:

Other - gait analysis, biomechanics, electromyography, rehabilitation

1|2Indicates the priority used for review
Supporting Image: ResultImage.jpg
 

Abstract Information

By submitting your proposal, you grant permission for the Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) to distribute your work in any format, including video, audio print and electronic text through OHBM OnDemand, social media channels, the OHBM website, or other electronic publications and media.

I accept

The Open Science Special Interest Group (OSSIG) is introducing a reproducibility challenge for OHBM 2025. This new initiative aims to enhance the reproducibility of scientific results and foster collaborations between labs. Teams will consist of a “source” party and a “reproducing” party, and will be evaluated on the success of their replication, the openness of the source work, and additional deliverables. Click here for more information. Propose your OHBM abstract(s) as source work for future OHBM meetings by selecting one of the following options:

I do not want to participate in the reproducibility challenge.

Please indicate below if your study was a "resting state" or "task-activation” study.

Task-activation

Healthy subjects only or patients (note that patient studies may also involve healthy subjects):

Patients

Was this research conducted in the United States?

No

Were any human subjects research approved by the relevant Institutional Review Board or ethics panel? NOTE: Any human subjects studies without IRB approval will be automatically rejected.

Yes

Were any animal research approved by the relevant IACUC or other animal research panel? NOTE: Any animal studies without IACUC approval will be automatically rejected.

Not applicable

Please indicate which methods were used in your research:

Other, Please specify  -   Gait Analysis

Provide references using APA citation style.

Not Applicable

UNESCO Institute of Statistics and World Bank Waiver Form

I attest that I currently live, work, or study in a country on the UNESCO Institute of Statistics and World Bank List of Low and Middle Income Countries list provided.

Yes

Please select the country that the first author on this abstract resides and works in from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics and World Bank List of Low and Middle Income Countries (based on gross national income per capita).

India