The effects of light touch on gait and dynamic balance during normal and tandem walking in individuals with an incomplete spinal cord injury

Study design Prospective cross-sectional study Objectives To investigate the effect of adding haptic input during walking in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Setting Research laboratory. Methods Participants with iSCI and age- and sex-matched able-bodied (AB) individuals walked normally (SCIn = 18, ABn = 17) and in tandem (SCIn = 12, ABn = 17). Haptic input was added through light touch on a railing. Step parameters, and mediolateral and anterior-posterior margins of stability (means and standard deviations) were calculated. Surface electromyography data were collected bilaterally from the tibialis anterior (TA), soleus (SOL), and gluteus medius (GMED) and integrated over a stride. Repeated measures ANOVAs examined within- and between-group differences (alpha = 0.05). Cutaneous and proprioceptive sensation of individuals with iSCI were correlated to changes in outcome measures that were affected by haptic input. Results When walking normally, adding haptic input decreased stride velocity, step width, stride length, MOSML, MOSML_SD, MOSAP, and MOSAP_SD, and increased GMED activity on the limb opposite the railing. During tandem walking, haptic input had no effect; however, individuals with iSCI had a larger step width SD and MOSML_SD compared with the AB group. Sensory abilities of individuals with iSCI were not correlated to any of the outcome measures that significantly changed with added haptic input. Conclusions Added haptic input improved balance control during normal but not in tandem walking. Sensory abilities did not impact the use of added haptic input during walking.