Modification of maneuver strategies in lateral force fields in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury

Incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) often impairs walking ability, which increase fall risk and limit community ambulation. To develop effective interventions for improving such ability, behaviors that contribute to walking stability and how those behaviors can be modified must be identified. This work focuses on the lateral movements (“maneuvers”) that are required to navigate typical walking environments (e.g. stepping around obstacle). Individuals with and without iSCI demonstrated an ability to modify their stepping strategies in response to a walking maneuver performed in different lateral force fields. Significant differences in lateral margin of stability (MOS) were found between fields and populations, providing insight on how each population adapted their control to the differing kinetic environments.