Understanding the mechanisms of sensorimotor dysfunction during walking

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K21239
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Takarazuka University of Medical and Health Care (2023); Kio University (2021-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Hayashida Kazuki 宝塚医療大学, 和歌山保健医療学部, 助教 (00911281)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 感覚運動不一致 / 歩行 / 運動学習

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Abnormal body perception and associated motor control deficits caused by sensory-motor incongruence, such as "feeling as if the limb does not belong to me," are frequently observed in stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of sensorimotor incongruence in "walking" in healthy participants. Temporal gait parameters (stride time and stride time) were altered by sensorimotor incongruence, while spatial parameters were unaffected (probably due to experimental manipulation of temporal incongruence). Subjective parameters such as "sense of body heaviness" were also affected as the discrepancy increased. With this basic data, a clinical study could be initiated.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

感覚運動不一致によってもたらされる身体感覚異常や運動制御不全に関する研究は、上肢運動にほとんど限られていた。上肢運動と歩行運動が発現する神経メカニズムは違うため、感覚運動不一致による影響も異なる。本研究成果によって、当該分野の一知見を蓄積できた。
また、感覚運動不一致の問題は、脳卒中だけで起こるのではなく、運動器疾患や切断患者など多岐にわたる。本研究の発展は、多くの患者の病態理解ならびに治療的介入手段を考えるための手立てになる可能性を含んでいる。