Type of Document	Thesis
Author	Holton, Eric
URN	etd-08282003-151236
Title	Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation at the Tibialis Anterior Muscle on Kinematic, & Kinetic Parameters of Gait Initiation in Parkinsonism.
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Tonya Toole Committee Chair Charles C. Ouimet Committee Member John Bertram Committee Member Lynn Panton Committee Member
Keywords	Kinetic Parameters of Gait Initiation in Parkinson
Date of Defense	2003-06-01
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract In Parkinson’s Disease (PD) the postural synergy use to begin the initial fall in the saggital plane during gait initiation has been shown degraded and/or altered from that of healthy populations. The exact mechanism behind this poverty in gait initiation is unknown. This research was designed to assess the possibility that the signal from the central nervous system is degraded due to the disease which effects the basal ganglia leading to a reduced excitation and inhibition of the tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) muscles respectively. Parkinson participants were asked to initiate gait to three different conditions, TENS (transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation) at the TA, TENS at the arm, and auditory signaling. The premise behind this research is that by bilaterally increasing the force output at of the TA muscles through TENS stimulation during the early stages of gait initiation one should observe improvement in gait initiation parameters of those with the disease. Three of the nine research hypothesis were supported with restrictions. Significant increases in peak center of mass velocity, center of mass velocity at heel-off, and horizontal impulse were established between TENS at the leg and auditory signaling onditions. Administration of TENS at the TA during the anticipatory postural adjustment phase does increase certain gait initiation parameters significantly in individuals with PD. TENS at the TA may also create, in PD patients, an increased force output by other muscles used in gait initiation. Interestingly, individuals with PD do significantly increase their gait initiation velocities apparently without significantly increasing the Anterior/posterior center of foot pressure shift. This finding suggests that individuals with PD utilize different strategies for GI than healthy populations.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    01.eh.thesis.pdf 343.11 Kb 00:01:35 00:00:49 00:00:42 00:00:21 00:00:01