DocumentCode :
2486574
Title :
Robot applied stance loading increases hindlimb muscle mass and stepping kinetics in a rat model of spinal cord injury
Author :
Nessler, Jeff A. ; Moustafa-Bayoumi, Moustafa ; Soto, Dalziel ; Duhon, Jessica E. ; Schmitt, Ryan
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Kinesiology, California State Univ., San Marcos, CA, USA
fYear :
2011
fDate :
Aug. 30 2011-Sept. 3 2011
Firstpage :
4145
Lastpage :
4148
Abstract :
Following spinal cord injury (SCI) reduced limb usage typically results in muscle atrophy. While robotic locomotor training has been shown to improve several aspects of stepping ability following SCI, little is known regarding the effects of automated training on the preservation of muscle function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two robotic locomotor training algorithms on hindlimb strength and muscle mass in a rat model of SCI. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats received a mid-thoracic spinal cord transection at 5 days of age, and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control (no training), standard robotic training, and robotic training with a downward force applied to the shank during the stance phase of gait. Training occurred 5 days/week for 5 min/day, and animals received 90% body weight support for all sessions. Following 4 weeks of training, vertical and propulsive ground reaction force during stepping and en vitro mass of two plantarflexor muscles were significantly increased for all of the trained animals when compared to the untrained control group. Post hoc analysis revealed that standard robotic training did not appear to increase ground reaction force and muscle mass to the same extent as the loaded condition. These results indicate that automated robotic training helps to preserve hindlimb muscle function in rats following SCI. Further, the addition of a plantarflexion stance load appears to promote greater increases in muscle mass and stepping kinetics.
Keywords :
gait analysis; handicapped aids; injuries; medical robotics; muscle; patient rehabilitation; Sprague-Dawley rats; automated robotic training; gait stance phase; hindlimb muscle function; hindlimb muscle mass; hindlimb strength; mid-thoracic spinal cord transection; muscle function; muscle mass; patient rehabilitation; plantarflexion stance load; plantarflexor muscles; propulsive ground reaction force; rat model; robot applied stance loading; robotic locomotor training algorithm; spinal cord injury; standard robotic training; stepping kinetics; time 5 day; trained animals; Force; Muscles; Rats; Robots; Spinal cord; Training; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Hindlimb; Locomotion; Muscle, Skeletal; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Robotics; Spinal Cord Injuries;
fLanguage :
English
Publisher :
ieee
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC, 2011 Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
Boston, MA
ISSN :
1557-170X
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-4121-1
Electronic_ISBN :
1557-170X
Type :
conf
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.2011.6091029
Filename :
6091029
Link To Document :
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