Assessing Special Features of Impaired Gait After Acquired Brain Injury With an Instrumented Treadmill

Hemiparetic gait following acquired brain injury (ABI) is grossly characterized by decreased speed of walking, increased stance time on the unaffected side, and decreased stance time on the affected side.These abnormalities are associated with a complex pattern of dysfunction including muscle weakness, spasticity, impaired sensory-motor control, long-term mechanical changes in muscles and joints, and cognitive impairments e.g. attention.\\ At this stage of our knowledge it is still unclear which kinetic and kinematic parameters of hemiparetic gait provide insight about the different components of the complex pattern of dysfunction. A novel technique had been introduced in the Motion Laboratory of the Sheba Medical Center consisting of an ordinary treadmill that is equipped with a 'mat' of more than 5000 high-quality capacitive pressure/force sensors. This treadmill developed by "ZEBRIS" enables to analyze gait and roll-off patterns on the treadmill. Aims of the study: 1. To assess variability of data derived from the Zebris treadmill. 2. To investigate stability of hemiparetic gait. 3. To evaluate variability and relevant gait parameters taking place during recovery after acute ABI. 4. To compare gait on ground with gait on treadmill. Rationale of the study- Basic assumptions of the study: 1. No significant change in gait parameters is expected in both groups including healthy controls and chronic ABI subjects in recurrent examination within one week period. 2. Subacute ABI patients are found to be within the context of neurorehabilitative recovery due to brain plasticity. Therefore a change in gait parameters is expected within two consecutive examinations in the chosen time intervals. 3. All measurements are subject to error which contributes to the variance of outcomes. On the grounds of these assumptions: A. Two consecutive examinations in both groups including healthy controls and chronic ABI subjects are intended to estimate the error in measured values