• Ailish Malone, Dara Meldrum, and Ciaran Bolger.
• Gait Analysis Laboratory, Central Remedial Clinic, Clontarf, Dublin 3, Ireland, ammalone@crc.ie.
• Eur Spine J. 2015 Jan 1; 24 (1): 48-56.

PurposeGait impairment is an important feature of cervical sponydylotic myelopathy (CSM) as it can have a detrimental effect on function and quality of life. The aim of this study was to measure changes in gait in people with CSM following surgical decompression.MethodsThirteen participants with clinical and radiological evidence of CSM underwent three-dimensional gait analysis, using a full lower limb kinematic, kinetic and electromyography protocol, before and 12 months after decompressive surgery.ResultsNo significant post-operative changes were detected in temporal-spatial or kinematic parameters. Kinetic data showed significant improvements in knee power absorption [mean improvement, 0.42 watts per kilogram (W/kg)], ankle plantarflexor moment (0.1 Nm/kg) and ankle power generation (0.55 W/kg). Electromyography showed a 4.7 % increase in tibialis anterior activation time.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that improvement in locomotor function can be achieved after surgery. Future studies should explore the potential for further recovery of gait through targeted neuro-rehabilitation.

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