Biomechanic and EMG Examination of Gait in Patients with Sequelae of Cervical Spine and Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Biomechanic and innervation structure of gait in patients with sequelae of cervical spine and spinal cord injury was considered. It was shown that the main indices of gait (mean speed of movement, rate, step length) had deteriorated, stability during the gait (increased duration of bearing and double-bearing phase) was decreased, amplitude of angular movements in leg joints was decrease, reduction and deformity of the components of main vector of bearing reaction took place. Electric activity of the majority of lower extremity muscles was decreased and its maxi­mum was translated to the right along the time axis. It was shown that the shift of muscle activity maximum was caused by translation of vertical load into the middle part of bearing phase on account of use of an additional support (stick, crutches). It was noted that deterioration of all gait indices especially the decrease of mean speed of movement depended on aggravation of the pathology. Biomechanic and neurophysiologic interpretation of data obtained was presented.