Does Upper-Limb Loss and Prosthesis Use Affect Lower-Limb Gait Dynamics? (JPO033-4B)

Credit Hours

2.0 Scientific Credits

Learning Objectives

• By the end of this course, participants will be able to describe the synchronization between arm swing and leg movement during steady-state walking, including how this coordination changes with walking speed.
• Participants will be able to explain the role of shoulder muscle activity in facilitating arm swing during gait and its contribution to walking dynamics, such as decelerating forward motion.
• Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to identify the role of central pattern generators and neural oscillators in coordinating upper- and lower-limb movement during bipedal gait.

Course Description

Does Upper-Limb Loss and Prosthesis Use Affect Lower-Limb Gait Dynamics? (JPO033-4B)

During steady-state walking, the arms of able-bodied individuals swing with a consistent rhythmic pattern that is antiphase synchronized with leg swing, and the frequency of swing ratio between the arms and legs is dependent on walking speed. Arm swing synchronizes to the step frequency at slower walking speeds and eventually transitions to coordinating with stride frequency as speed increases. The arms typically swing through a range of 30° to 40° during gait and is accompanied by shoulder muscle activity that aids in extending the arm backward and decelerating forward motion. Although periodic arm swing can be induced through the passive dynamics of walking, evidence suggests that an underlying mechanism contributing to upper-limb and lower-limb synchronization is neural coordination. Neural oscillators in the spinal cord, known as central pattern generators, were originally identified as a mechanism for coordinating the motor control of quadruped animals but may also regulate aspects of human bipedal gait.

Presenter Name(s)

• Kiley Armstrong, MS, MPO
• John T. Brinkmann, MA, CPO/L, FAAOP(D)
• Rebecca Stine, MSc, Steven A. Gard, PhD
• Matthew J. Major, PhD