Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds
Abstract Background Treadmill-based gait training is part of rehabilitation programs focused on walking abilities. The use of handrails embedded in treadmill systems is debated, and current literature only explores the issue from a behavioral perspective. Methods We examined the cortical correlates...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01543-w |
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| author | Monica Biggio Costanza Iester Davide Cattaneo Simone Cutini Ambra Bisio Ludovico Pedullà Alessandro Torchio Marco Bove Laura Bonzano |
| author_facet | Monica Biggio Costanza Iester Davide Cattaneo Simone Cutini Ambra Bisio Ludovico Pedullà Alessandro Torchio Marco Bove Laura Bonzano |
| author_sort | Monica Biggio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Treadmill-based gait training is part of rehabilitation programs focused on walking abilities. The use of handrails embedded in treadmill systems is debated, and current literature only explores the issue from a behavioral perspective. Methods We examined the cortical correlates of treadmill walking in healthy participants using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. We investigated whether the utilization of treadmill handrails at varying walking speeds could affect cortical activation associated with the task, and we evaluated potential differences in task-based functional connectivity across the various walking conditions. Results Significant differences in cortical activation were found between the two walking speeds (3 and 5 km/h) in the unsupported condition; these differences were reduced when using the handrails. Specifically, cortical activation was significantly higher when the participants swung their arms freely while walking at a speed of 5 compared to 3 km/h in several Brodmann’s Areas (BA): left BA10, BA3 and BA39, and right BA10, BA9, BA8, BA3, and BA40. No significant differences were found when participants were holding onto the handrails. A significant difference was found in the left BA40 between the two speeds, regardless of whether the participants were holding onto the handrails. Furthermore, at the higher speed and without the use of handrails, a wider pattern of task-based functional connectivity was observed, with significantly stronger connectivity between the left BA10 and BA40. Conclusions We suggest that speed and handrails use play a role in walking cortical activity patterns, therefore they are key ingredients to take into account when planning a rehabilitation program. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-271112c876ce4a14aaa6129fa25212e8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1743-0003 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj-art-271112c876ce4a14aaa6129fa25212e82025-01-19T12:12:53ZengBMCJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation1743-00032025-01-0122111410.1186/s12984-025-01543-wShould you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speedsMonica Biggio0Costanza Iester1Davide Cattaneo2Simone Cutini3Ambra Bisio4Ludovico Pedullà5Alessandro Torchio6Marco Bove7Laura Bonzano8Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of GenoaDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of GenoaIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo GnocchiDepartment of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of PadovaDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of GenoaItalian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Scientific Research AreaIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo GnocchiDepartment of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of GenoaDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of GenoaAbstract Background Treadmill-based gait training is part of rehabilitation programs focused on walking abilities. The use of handrails embedded in treadmill systems is debated, and current literature only explores the issue from a behavioral perspective. Methods We examined the cortical correlates of treadmill walking in healthy participants using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. We investigated whether the utilization of treadmill handrails at varying walking speeds could affect cortical activation associated with the task, and we evaluated potential differences in task-based functional connectivity across the various walking conditions. Results Significant differences in cortical activation were found between the two walking speeds (3 and 5 km/h) in the unsupported condition; these differences were reduced when using the handrails. Specifically, cortical activation was significantly higher when the participants swung their arms freely while walking at a speed of 5 compared to 3 km/h in several Brodmann’s Areas (BA): left BA10, BA3 and BA39, and right BA10, BA9, BA8, BA3, and BA40. No significant differences were found when participants were holding onto the handrails. A significant difference was found in the left BA40 between the two speeds, regardless of whether the participants were holding onto the handrails. Furthermore, at the higher speed and without the use of handrails, a wider pattern of task-based functional connectivity was observed, with significantly stronger connectivity between the left BA10 and BA40. Conclusions We suggest that speed and handrails use play a role in walking cortical activity patterns, therefore they are key ingredients to take into account when planning a rehabilitation program.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01543-wFunctional near-infrared spectroscopyHaptic contactTreadmillWalking speed |
| spellingShingle | Monica Biggio Costanza Iester Davide Cattaneo Simone Cutini Ambra Bisio Ludovico Pedullà Alessandro Torchio Marco Bove Laura Bonzano Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation Functional near-infrared spectroscopy Haptic contact Treadmill Walking speed |
| title | Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds |
| title_full | Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds |
| title_fullStr | Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds |
| title_short | Should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not? Cortical evidence at different walking speeds |
| title_sort | should you hold onto the treadmill handrails or not cortical evidence at different walking speeds |
| topic | Functional near-infrared spectroscopy Haptic contact Treadmill Walking speed |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-025-01543-w |
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