1999 Volume 13 Issue 2 Pages 119-132
Using computerized motion analysis techniques, kinematics of foot trajectories were quantitatively analyzed in twelve rats before and after dorsal spinal cord hemisection at T6 level. Although overground locomotion in these animals returned to normal within four weeks, some kinematic variables during treadmill locomotion did not recover to pre-lesion levels. Immediately following dorsal hemisection, amplitudes of both hindfeet horizontal and vertical movements were dramatically reduced. However, in three weeks, the amplitudes of horizontal movement (stride length) became significantly larger than that of pre-lesion strides. On the other hand, amplitude of hindlimb vertical movement showed very little recovery. Forelimb-hindlimb coordination was also disrupted initially but returned to normal within three weeks. The duration of hindlimb swing phase became significantly longer after section and gradually recovered, but never to prelesion levels. Interestingly, amplitudes of forelimb vertical movement, which was depressed initially, became significantly larger three weeks after lesion. A dramatic increase in the statistical variation of limb kinematics, which persisted even after motor recovery, is an important parameter for the evaluation of neural deficits in spinal cord injuries. Kinematic analysis using computerized motion analysis techniques is a sensitive technique for the detection of minor motor deficits following nerve injures.
