An Able-Bodied Study for Potential Usage of a Knee Scooter as a Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) Gait Training Device

TL;DR

This study explores using a knee scooter for gait training after stroke by comparing its movement patterns to natural gait.

Contribution

The novel use of a knee scooter as a potential CIMT gait training device is proposed and tested.

Findings

Gait patterns using a knee scooter closely resemble natural gait in joint angles and muscle activation.

The knee scooter could serve as a feasible CIMT gait training tool for stroke rehabilitation.

Stride length and step times with the knee scooter are similar to those in natural gait.

Abstract

Post-stroke gait is characterized by slow and asymmetrical hemiparetic gait. This is attributed to the paretic lower limb which has limited plantar propulsion. The most effective method to restore paretic limb function is constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), which promotes the usage of the paretic limb by restricting the movement of the unafflicted limb. However, due to the necessity of both lower limbs to perform gait, CIMT methods could not be directly applied for gait rehabilitation. In this study, we explore the feasibility of utilizing a knee scooter as a means to facilitate CIMT gait training. We hypothesize that if lower limb kinematics and muscle activation patterns during gait with a knee scooter match that of natural gait, the knee scooter could be utilized for CIMT gait training. We measured the lower-limb joint angles, plantar force, EMG patterns, stride length, and step times of 13 healthy subjects during gait with a knee scooter and natural gait. The results suggest that the gait patterns while using the knee scooter closely resemble those of natural gait.

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