Propulsion during human bipedal walking is produced to a large extent by ankle plantar flexor muscle activity during push-off at the end of the stance phase. The contribution from the motor cortex to this phase of locomotion is not well understood. The present study used coherence and directionality analyses to explore whether the motor cortex contributes to this activity. Eleven healthy adult subjects (age 24.9±2.8) walked on a treadmill at 3.6 km/h, while EEG was recorded over the leg motor cortex area and EMG was recorded from the medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence were calculated from pair-wise recordings. Significant EEG-EMG and EMG-EMG coherence in the beta and gamma frequency bands was found throughout the stance phase in the population average from all subjects. Analysis of directionality revealed that EEG activity preceded EMG activity throughout the stance phase until the time of push-off. Quantification of EEG-EMG coherence showed that the largest coherence was found towards the end of stance just prior to push-off. We interpret these findings to suggest that the motor cortex contributes to ankle plantar flexor muscle activity and forward propulsion during gait.
Daily treadmill training with an incline for 6 weeks reduces ankle joint stiffness and increases active ROM during gait in adults with CP. Intensive gait training may thus be beneficial in preventing and reducing contractures and help to maintain functional gait ability in adults with CP. Implications for rehabilitation Uphill gait training is an effective way to reduce ankle joint stiffness in adult with contractures. 6 weeks of daily uphill gait training improves functional gait parameters such as gait speed and dorsal flexion during gait in adults with cerebral palsy.
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