Enhancing Locomotor Learning With Transcutaneous Spinal Electrical Stimulation and Somatosensory Augmentation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated locomotor learning of a complex terrain walking task in older adults, when combined with two adjuvant interventions: transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) to increase lumbar spinal cord excitability, and textured shoe insoles to increase somatosensory feedback to the spinal cord. The spinal cord has a crucial contribution to control of walking, and is a novel therapeutic target for rehabilitation of older adults. The complex terrain task involved walking a 10-meter course consisting of nine obstacles and three sections of compliant (soft) walking surface. Twenty-three participants were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: sham tsDCS and smooth insoles (sham/smooth; control group), sham tsDCS and textured insoles (sham/textur

SUBMITTER: Clark DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8924500 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature