Abstract
Since brainstem control of circulatory responses is largely lost in the paralyzed region of individuals with complete
spinal cord injury, they often show orthostatic hypotension and its related symptoms such as lightheadedness,
dizziness, nausea and sensation of breathlessness while standing. However, passive walking-like movement of the
paralyzed legs can induce an increase in blood pressure, thus enabling maintenance of standing posture without
symptoms. It is conceivable that human walking-like leg movement was developed to compensate for the lack of
physiological adaptation to a standing posture and that the spinal cord can play a significant role for the compensation.
