Survey of the Prices of Topical Compounded Medications for Alopecia in the Tri-State Area.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there is only one topical medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for alopecia, minoxidil 2.5% and 5%. With limited options, dermatologists often turn to compounding pharmacies for customized topical alopecia medications. OBJECTIVES: (1) to investigate the pricing and availabilities of compounded topical alopecia medications and (2) to investigate the delivery/mail options available. METHODS: 103 dermatological compounding pharmacies in the tri-state area were contacted. Data were collected on the prices of 11 different compounded formulations for alopecia, the highest concentration of minoxidil available, compounding accreditation status, and delivery. RESULTS: The majority (76.7% [79/103]) of pharmacies surveyed were responsive. Mean prices for 60 g or mL of medication were $70.44 for minoxidil 5%, $86.95 for minoxidil 5%/finasteride 0.5%, $159.13 for minoxidil 5%/bimatoprost 0.03%, $141.91 for minoxidil 5%/latanoprost 0.02%, $75.31 for finasteride 0.5%, $204.41 for tacrolimus 0.3%, $220.11 for tacrolimus 0.3%/minoxidil 5%/clobetasol 0.05%, $71.44 for cetirizine 1%, $74.93 for metformin 10%, $4,273.20 for tofacitinib 2%, and $1,840.42 for ruxolitinib 2%. Nearly all (93.5% [72/77]) of the pharmacies reported being able to compound minoxidil higher than the commercially available 5%, while 67.6% (50/74) were able to customize minoxidil to be made with <10% alcohol. Just over half (56.4% [44/78]) of the pharmacies were able to deliver to all tri-state areas. The mean delivery fee of pharmacies was $5.93 (n=77). Almost all of the pharmacies (98.7% [76/77]) claimed to be able to process and deliver medications within a week. If pharmacies were not located in the local vicinity, 44.6% (29/65) used a mailing service. CONCLUSION: This survey serves to expand clinicians' and patients' knowledge of the options and prices of topical compounded medications for alopecia. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(3):     doi:10.36849/JDD.7697.

Atopic dermatitis stratification: current and future perspective on skin and blood transcriptomic and proteomic profiling.

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common, chronic inflammatory skin disorder driven by an intricate interplay of genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. AREAS COVERED: As a clinically heterogenous condition, AD may be stratified into subtypes based on factors including, chronicity, immunoglobulin E levels, severity, age, and ethnicity. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses in skin and blood help elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of these AD subtypes, referred to as AD endotypes. Further characterizing AD endotypes using reliable biomarkers can facilitate the development of more effective and personalized therapeutics and improve our tools for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response across a diverse subset of patients. Here, we aim to provide perspective on the latest research regarding AD stratification using skin and blood-based studies and insight into the implications of these findings on the future of AD research and clinical practice. EXPERT OPINION: The precise stratification of AD endotypes will allow for the development of reliable biomarkers and a more personalized medical treatment approach. Clinical practice and trials will eventually be able to bridge clinical with molecular data to optimize individualized treatments and more effectively monitor treatment response.

Visuospatial cognition predicts performance on an obstructed vision obstacle walking task in older adults.

Walking performance and cognitive function demonstrate strong associations in older adults, with both declining with advancing age. Walking requires the use of cognitive resources, particularly in complex environments like stepping over obstacles. A commonly implemented approach for measuring the cognitive control of walking is a dual-task walking assessment, in which walking is combined with a second task. However, dual-task assessments have shortcomings, including issues with scaling the task difficulty and controlling for task prioritization. Here we present a new assessment designed to be less susceptible to these shortcomings while still challenging cognitive control of walking: the Obstructed Vision Obstacle (OBVIO) task. During the task, participants hold a lightweight tray at waist level obstructing their view of upcoming foam blocks, which are intermittently spaced along a 10 m walkway. This forces the participants to use cognitive resources (e.g., attention and working memory) to remember the exact placement of upcoming obstacles to facilitate successful crossing. The results demonstrate that adding the obstructed vision board significantly slowed walking speed by an average of 0.26 m/s and increased the number of obstacle strikes by 8-fold in healthy older adults (n = 74). Additionally, OBVIO walking performance (a score based on both speed and number of obstacle strikes) significantly correlated with computer-based assessments of visuospatial working memory, attention, and verbal working memory. These results provide initial support that the OBVIO task is a feasible walking test that demands cognitive resources. This study lays the groundwork for using the OBVIO task in future assessment and intervention studies.

Traction alopecia: assessing the presentation, management and outcomes in a diverse urban population.

Traction alopecia (TA) is a type of hair loss caused by repetitive tension placed on the hair follicle. An institutional review board-approved retrospective study was conducted at a single institution located in the Bronx, New York. The review identified 216 unique patients with TA and collected information on demographics, patient presentation, history, physical exam, treatment, follow-up and disease improvement. Almost all patients identified as female (98.6%), and most were Black or African American (72.7%). Mean (SD) age was 41.3 (17.1) years (median 40 years; range 1-88). Patients reported hair loss for a mean duration of 35 (51.1) months (median 18 months; range 1-264) prior to presentation. Most patients experienced asymptomatic hair loss. Around half (49.1%) of the patients attended a follow-up, with 42.5% of these patients noting improvement in hair loss or symptoms across all visits. Duration of hair loss was not associated with improvement in hair loss at follow-up visit (P = 0.23).

Vessel infiltration with microcannula during filler injection: a rare but consequential occurrence.

Serious complications of cosmetic filler injections include vascular necrosis if the filler is injected into an artery. The use of a microcannula for filler injection has been reported to be safer with lower rates of vascular occlusion. We report a case of vessel infiltration that was noted prior to injection with microcannula which identifies an additional safety step for injectors. This case highlights the potential for devastating vascular occlusion with microcannula use while also demonstrating methods to identify vascular infiltration prior to filler injection. The purpose of this report is to educate and encourage injectors to inspect the introducer needle prior to any filler injection in order to avoid vascular occlusion during filler injection.

Feasibility of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation combined with locomotor training after spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Feasibility study, consisting of random-order, cross-over study of a single intervention session, followed by a parallel-arm study of 16 sessions. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the feasibility of a novel combinatorial approach with simultaneous delivery of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) and locomotor training (tsDCS + LT) after spinal cord injury, compared to sham stimulation and locomotor training (sham + LT), and examine preliminary effects on walking function. SETTING: Clinical research center in the southeastern United States. METHODS: Eight individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI) completed the two-part protocol. Feasibility was assessed based on safety (adverse responses), tolerability (pain, spasticity, skin integrity), and protocol achievement (session duration, intensity). Walking function was assessed with the 10 m and 6 min walk tests. RESULTS: There were no major adverse responses. Minimal reports of skin irritation and musculoskeletal pain were consistent between groups. Average training peak heart rate as percent of maximum (mean(SD); tsDCS + LT: 66 (4)%, sham + LT: 69 (10)%) and Borg ratings of perceived exertion (tsDCS + LT: 17.5 (1.2), sham + LT: 14.4 (1.8)) indicate both groups trained at high intensities. Walking speed gains exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in three of four who received tsDCS + LT (0.18 (0.29) m/s) and one of four in sham + LT (-0.05 (0.23) m/s). Gains in walking endurance exceeded the MCID in one of four in each group (tsDCS + LT: 36.4 (69.0) m, sham + LT: 4.9 (56.9) m). CONCLUSIONS: Combinatorial tsDCS and locomotor training is safe and feasible for individuals with chronic ISCI, even those with considerable walking impairment. Study outcomes support the need to investigate the efficacy of this approach.

Enhancing Locomotor Learning With Transcutaneous Spinal Electrical Stimulation and Somatosensory Augmentation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial in Older Adults.

This study investigated locomotor learning of a complex terrain walking task in older adults, when combined with two adjuvant interventions: transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) to increase lumbar spinal cord excitability, and textured shoe insoles to increase somatosensory feedback to the spinal cord. The spinal cord has a crucial contribution to control of walking, and is a novel therapeutic target for rehabilitation of older adults. The complex terrain task involved walking a 10-meter course consisting of nine obstacles and three sections of compliant (soft) walking surface. Twenty-three participants were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: sham tsDCS and smooth insoles (sham/smooth; control group), sham tsDCS and textured insoles (sham/textured), active tsDCS and smooth insoles (active/smooth), and active tsDCS and textured insoles (active/textured). The first objective was to assess the feasibility, tolerability, and safety of the interventions. The second objective was to assess preliminary efficacy for increasing locomotor learning, as defined by retention of gains in walking speed between a baseline visit of task practice, and a subsequent follow-up visit. Variability of the center of mass while walking over the course was also evaluated. The change in executive control of walking (prefrontal cortical activity) between the baseline and follow-up visits was measured with functional near infrared spectroscopy. The study results demonstrated feasibility based on enrollment and retention of participants, tolerability based on self-report, and safety based on absence of adverse events. Preliminary efficacy was supported based on trends showing larger gains in walking speed and more pronounced reductions in mediolateral center of mass variability at the follow-up visit in the groups randomized to active tsDCS or textured insoles. These data justify future larger studies to further assess dosing and efficacy of these intervention approaches. In conclusion, rehabilitation interventions that target spinal control of walking present a potential opportunity for enhancing walking function in older adults.

Breastfeeding Is Associated with Lower Likelihood of Helicobacter Pylori Colonization in Babies, Based on a Prospective USA Maternal-Infant Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Mother-to-child transmission of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the primary source of intrafamilial spread in early childhood in regions of high H. pylori prevalence. However, early-in-life H. pylori colonization and associated protective or risk factors have not been fully evaluated in lower prevalence regions, such as the USA. AIMS: Therefore, from a well-characterized prospective US cohort, we selected women who provided fecal samples during pregnancy and had paired fecal samples from their babies up to 24 months postpartum. We evaluated maternal and baby factors associated with likelihood of H. pylori colonization in the babies. Fecal antigen testing was used to determine H. pylori status. We also evaluated the association between maternal breastmilk cytokines and H. pylori colonization in breastfed babies. RESULTS: Among included mother-baby pairs (n = 66), H. pylori prevalence was 31.8% in mothers and 19.7% in their babies. Dominant breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.17, 95% CI 0.03-0.98) and maternal IBD (aOR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.27) were associated with significantly lower likelihood of H. pylori colonization among babies; no other clinical factors were associated with H. pylori colonization in the babies. Matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10) and tumor necrosis factor-related activation-induced cytokine expression were significantly higher in breastmilk of mothers with H. pylori positive vs negative babies. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with data from high H. pylori prevalence regions, our findings suggest dominant breastfeeding may protect against early H. pylori colonization. Downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as MMP-10 may be relevant in mediating this protection among breastfed babies, but more data are needed.

Rehabilitation with accurate adaptability walking tasks or steady state walking: A randomized clinical trial in adults post-stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in walking function and walking-related prefrontal cortical activity following two post-stroke rehabilitation interventions: an accurate adaptability (ACC) walking intervention and a steady state (SS) walking intervention. DESIGN: Randomized, single blind, parallel group clinical trial. SETTING: Hospital research setting. SUBJECTS: Adults with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis and walking deficits. INTERVENTIONS: ACC emphasized stepping accuracy and walking adaptability, while SS emphasized steady state, symmetrical stepping. Both included 36 sessions led by a licensed physical therapist. ACC walking tasks recruit cortical regions that increase corticospinal tract activation, while SS walking activates the corticospinal tract less intensely. MAIN MEASURES: The primary functional outcome measure was preferred steady state walking speed. Prefrontal brain activity during walking was measured with functional near infrared spectroscopy to assess executive control demands. Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention (three months), and follow-up (six months). RESULTS: Thirty-eight participants were randomized to the study interventions (mean age 59.6 ± 9.1 years; mean months post-stroke 18.0 ± 10.5). Preferred walking speed increased from baseline to post-intervention by 0.13 ± 0.11 m/s in the ACC group and by 0.14 ± 0.13 m/s in the SS group. The Time × Group interaction was not statistically significant (P = 0.86). Prefrontal fNIRS during walking decreased from baseline to post-intervention, with a marginally larger effect in the ACC group (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The ACC and SS interventions produced similar changes in walking function. fNIRS suggested a potential benefit of ACC training for reducing demand on prefrontal (executive) resources during walking.

Longitudinal Changes in Fecal Calprotectin Levels Among Pregnant Women With and Without Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Their Babies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The effect of pregnancy on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains poorly understood. We aimed to monitor intestinal inflammation using fecal calprotectin (FC) in pregnant women and their babies during early life. METHODS: Pregnant women with or without IBD and their infants were prospectively enrolled. FC levels were measured at each trimester of pregnancy and in babies throughout the first 3 years of life. Repeated-measures analysis was applied to investigate changes in FC levels while adjusting for confounders. The FC levels were correlated with the bacterial abundance in both mothers and babies. RESULTS: Six hundred and fourteen fecal samples from 358 mothers (98 with IBD) and 1005 fecal samples from 289 infants (76 born to IBD mothers) were analyzed. Pregnant Patients with IBD maintained higher FC levels through pregnancy compared with controls (P = 7.5 × 10-54). FC gradually increased in controls and declined in Patients with IBD throughout pregnancy (P for interaction = 5.8 × 10-7). Babies born to mothers with IBD presented with significantly higher FC levels than those born to controls up to 3 years of age, after adjusting for sex, delivery mode, feeding behavior, and antibiotics exposure (2 weeks to 3 months of age, P = .015; 12-36 months of age, P = .00003). Subdoligranulum, Roseburia, Fusicatenibacter, and Alistipes negatively correlated, and Streptococcus, Prevotella, Escherichia-Shigella, and Bifidobacterium positively correlated with maternal FC levels at T3. Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium, and Alistipes showed negative correlations, and Streptococcus were positively correlated with FC levels within 3 months of birth. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy is associated with decreased inflammatory activity in mothers with IBD. Higher FC levels in babies born to mothers with IBD suggest subclinical inflammation in early life, the long-term consequences of which are uncertain.

A dietary intervention to improve the microbiome composition of pregnant women with Crohn's disease and their offspring: The MELODY (Modulating Early Life Microbiome through Dietary Intervention in Pregnancy) trial design.

Crohn's disease (CD), a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a chronic condition of the gastrointestinal tract that is caused by the loss of mucosal tolerance towards the commensal bacteria resulting in inflammatory responses. It has long been postulated that the gut microbiota, a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Maternal diagnosis of IBD has been identified as the greatest risk factor for IBD in offspring increasing the odds of developing the disease >4.5-fold. Moreover, babies born to mothers with IBD have demonstrated reduced gut bacterial diversity. There is accumulating evidence that the early life microbiota colonization is informed by maternal diet within the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. While babies born to mothers with IBD would pose an ideal cohort for intervention, no primary prevention measures are currently available. Therefore, we designed the MELODY (Modulating Early Life Microbiome through Dietary Intervention in Pregnancy) trial to test whether the IBD-AID™ dietary intervention during the last trimester of pregnancy can beneficially shift the microbiome of CD patients and their babies, thereby promoting a strong, effective immune system during a critical time of the immune system development. We will also test if favorable changes in the microbiome can lead to a reduced risk of postpartum CD relapse and lower mucosal inflammation in the offspring. This study will help create new opportunities to foster a healthy microbiome in the offspring at high risk of other immune-mediated diseases, potentially reducing their risk later in life.

Clinical Practice Guideline to Improve Locomotor Function Following Chronic Stroke, Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, and Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with acute-onset central nervous system (CNS) injury, including stroke, motor incomplete spinal cord injury, or traumatic brain injury, often experience lasting locomotor deficits, as quantified by decreases in gait speed and distance walked over a specific duration (timed distance). The goal of the present clinical practice guideline was to delineate the relative efficacy of various interventions to improve walking speed and timed distance in ambulatory individuals greater than 6 months following these specific diagnoses. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature published between 1995 and 2016 was performed in 4 databases for randomized controlled clinical trials focused on these specific patient populations, at least 6 months postinjury and with specific outcomes of walking speed and timed distance. For all studies, specific parameters of training interventions including frequency, intensity, time, and type were detailed as possible. Recommendations were determined on the basis of the strength of the evidence and the potential harm, risks, or costs of providing a specific training paradigm, particularly when another intervention may be available and can provide greater benefit. RESULTS: Strong evidence indicates that clinicians should offer walking training at moderate to high intensities or virtual reality-based training to ambulatory individuals greater than 6 months following acute-onset CNS injury to improve walking speed or distance. In contrast, weak evidence suggests that strength training, circuit (ie, combined) training or cycling training at moderate to high intensities, and virtual reality-based balance training may improve walking speed and distance in these patient groups. Finally, strong evidence suggests that body weight-supported treadmill training, robotic-assisted training, or sitting/standing balance training without virtual reality should not be performed to improve walking speed or distance in ambulatory individuals greater than 6 months following acute-onset CNS injury to improve walking speed or distance. DISCUSSION: The collective findings suggest that large amounts of task-specific (ie, locomotor) practice may be critical for improvements in walking function, although only at higher cardiovascular intensities or with augmented feedback to increase patient's engagement. Lower-intensity walking interventions or impairment-based training strategies demonstrated equivocal or limited efficacy. LIMITATIONS: As walking speed and distance were primary outcomes, the research participants included in the studies walked without substantial physical assistance. This guideline may not apply to patients with limited ambulatory function, where provision of walking training may require substantial physical assistance. SUMMARY: The guideline suggests that task-specific walking training should be performed to improve walking speed and distance in those with acute-onset CNS injury although only at higher intensities or with augmented feedback. Future studies should clarify the potential utility of specific training parameters that lead to improved walking speed and distance in these populations in both chronic and subacute stages following injury. DISCLAIMER: These recommendations are intended as a guide for clinicians to optimize rehabilitation outcomes for persons with chronic stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury to improve walking speed and distance.

Interpreting Prefrontal Recruitment During Walking After Stroke: Influence of Individual Differences in Mobility and Cognitive Function.

Background: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a valuable neuroimaging approach for studying cortical contributions to walking function. Recruitment of prefrontal cortex during walking has been a particular area of focus in the literature. The present study investigated whether task-related change in prefrontal recruitment measured by fNIRS is affected by individual differences in people post-stroke. The primary hypotheses were that poor mobility function would contribute to prefrontal over-recruitment during typical walking, and that poor cognitive function would contribute to a ceiling in prefrontal recruitment during dual-task walking (i.e., walking with a cognitive task). Methods: Thirty-three adults with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis performed three tasks: typical walking at preferred speed (Walk), serial-7 subtraction (Serial7), and walking combined with serial-7 subtraction (Dual-Task). Prefrontal recruitment was measured with fNIRS and quantified as the change in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (ΔO2Hb) between resting and active periods for each task. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured on an electronic walkway. Stepwise regression was used to assess how prefrontal recruitment was affected by individual differences including age, sex, stroke region, injured hemisphere, stroke chronicity, 10-meter walking speed, balance confidence measured by Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, sensorimotor impairment measured by Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and cognitive function measured by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: For Walk, poor balance confidence (ABC Scale score) significantly predicted greater prefrontal recruitment (ΔO2Hb; R 2 = 0.25, p = 0.003). For Dual-Task, poor cognitive function (MMSE score) significantly predicted lower prefrontal recruitment (ΔO2Hb; R 2 = 0.25, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Poor mobility function predicted higher prefrontal recruitment during typical walking, consistent with compensatory over-recruitment. Poor cognitive function predicted lower prefrontal recruitment during dual-task walking, consistent with a recruitment ceiling effect. These findings indicate that interpretation of prefrontal recruitment should carefully consider the characteristics of the person and demands of the task.

Assessment of backward walking unmasks mobility impairments in post-stroke community ambulators.

Background: While over half of stroke survivors recover the ability to walk without assistance, deficits persist in the performance of walking adaptations necessary for safe home and community mobility. One such adaptation is the ability to walk or step backward. Post-stroke rehabilitation rarely includes backward walking (BW) assessment and BW deficits have not been quantified in post-stroke community ambulators. Objective: To quantify spatiotemporal and kinematic BW characteristics in post-stroke community ambulators and compare their performance to controls. Methods: Individuals post-stroke (n = 15, 60.1 ± 12.9 years, forward speed: 1.13 ± 0.23 m/s) and healthy adults (n = 12, 61.2 ± 16.2 years, forward speed: 1.40 ± 0.13 m/s) performed forward walking (FW) and BW during a single session. Step characteristics and peak lower extremity joint angles were extracted using 3D motion analysis and analyzed with mixed-method ANOVAs (group, walking condition). Results: The stroke group demonstrated greater reductions in speed, step length and cadence and a greater increase in double-support time during BW compared to FW (p < .01). Compared to FW, the post-stroke group demonstrated greater reductions in hip extension and knee flexion during BW (p < .05). The control group demonstrated decreased plantarflexion and increased dorsiflexion during BW, but these increases were attenuated in the post-stroke group (p < .05). Conclusions: Assessment of BW can unmask post-stroke walking impairments not detected during typical FW. BW impairments may contribute to the mobility difficulties reported by adults post-stroke. Therefore, BW should be assessed when determining readiness for home and community ambulation.

Prefrontal over-activation during walking in people with mobility deficits: Interpretation and functional implications.

BACKGROUND: Control of walking by the central nervous system includes contributions from executive control mechanisms, such as attention and motor planning resources. Executive control of walking can be estimated objectively by recording prefrontal cortical activity using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to investigate group differences in prefrontal/executive control of walking among young adults, older adults, and adults post-stroke. Also assessed was the extent to which walking-related prefrontal activity fits existing cognitive frameworks of prefrontal over-activation. METHODS: Participants included 24 adults post-stroke with moderate to severe walking deficits, 15 older adults with mild gait deficits, and 9 young healthy adults. Executive control of walking was quantified as oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in the prefrontal cortex measured by fNIRS. Three walking tasks were assessed: typical walking, walking over obstacles, and walking while performing a verbal fluency task. Walking performance was assessed by walking speed. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of group for prefrontal activity (p < 0.001) during typical and obstacles walking tasks, with young adults exhibiting the lowest level of prefrontal activity, followed by older adults, and then adults post-stroke. In young adults the prefrontal activity during typical walking was much lower than for the verbal fluency dual-task, suggesting substantial remaining prefrontal resources during typical walking. However, in older and post-stroke adults these remaining resources were significantly less (p < 0.01). Cumulatively, these results are consistent with prefrontal over-activation in the older and stroke groups, which was accompanied by a steeper drop in walking speed as task complexity increased to include obstacles (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a heightened use of prefrontal/executive control resources in older adults and post-stroke adults during walking. The level of prefrontal resource utilization, particularly during complex walking tasks like obstacle crossing, may approach the ceiling of available resources for people who have walking deficits. Prior cognitive research has revealed that prefrontal over-activation combined with limited prefrontal resources can lead to poor cognitive performance. The present study suggests a similar situation influences walking performance. Future research should further investigate the extent to which prefrontal over-activation during walking is linked to adverse mobility outcomes.

Walking on uneven terrain in healthy adults and the implications for people after stroke.

BACKGROUND: One third of individuals after stroke report an inability to walk in the community. Community mobility requires walking adaptability - the ability to adjust one's stepping pattern to meet environmental demands and task goals. Walking on uneven terrain (e.g. grass, gravel) has unique requirements and is a critical component of walking adaptability that has not been investigated in the post-stroke population. OBJECTIVE: To summarize current knowledge of biomechanical and neuromuscular modifications during uneven terrain negotiation in healthy individuals and discuss implications of post-stroke impairments. METHODS: Review of eleven studies, identified through a search of relevant literature on PubMed and CINAHL. RESULTS: On uneven terrain, healthy adults demonstrate numerous gait modifications including a lowered center of mass, increased muscle co-contraction during stance and exaggerated or increased toe clearance during swing. After stroke, changes in muscle activity and limb coordination will likely result in difficulty or inability performing these modifications that healthy adults use to maintain stability and safety when walking on uneven terrain. CONCLUSIONS: Studies of biomechanical and neuromuscular control of walking on uneven terrain are needed to quantify mobility limitations in adults post-stroke. Such investigations will contribute to the understanding of mobility impairments after stroke and the design of critically important intervention strategies.