Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2012 Jun;55(6):327-333. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.6.327.

Vestibulospinal Reflex and Locomotion

• Han GC

• KMID: 2277356
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.6.327

Abstract

Unsteadiness that people may continuously experience in everyday life is closely related to unilateral vestibulopathy. In human bipedal gait related to locomotion, supra-spinal control is responsible for gait rhythm. The vestibular system is involved in stable gait directly by adjusting the tension of the antigravity muscles and indirectly by producing information related to a change in the center of gravity according to the angular velocity and position of the head; thus, vestibular disorder gives rise to vestibular ataxia. Vestibular ataxia arises from vestibulo-spinal reflex impairment that changes the movement of the center of gravity in gait initiation, step length, stance width, the timing of ground reaction force, and pre-swing. In this way, information from studies related to locomotion is very important in vestibular rehabilitation.

Keyword

Locomotion; Vestibulo-spinal reflex; Ataxia; Rehabilitation

MeSH Terms

Ataxia
Gait
Gravitation
Humans
Locomotion
Muscles
Reflex