scholarly journals The effect of wrist posture on extrinsic finger muscle activity during single joint movements

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl R. Beringer ◽  
Misagh Mansouri ◽  
Lee E. Fisher ◽  
Jennifer L. Collinger ◽  
Michael C. Munin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Significant Activity ◽  
Bipolar Electrodes ◽  
Hand Muscles ◽  
Moment Arms ◽  
Prosthetic Hands ◽  
Fine Wire ◽  
Extensor Muscles ◽  
Finger Posture

AbstractWrist posture impacts the muscle lengths and moment arms of the extrinsic finger muscles that cross the wrist. As a result, the electromyographic (EMG) activity associated with digit movement at different wrist postures may also change. Therefore, we sought to quantify the posture-dependence of extrinsic finger muscle activity. Fine-wire bipolar electrodes were inserted in the extrinsic hand muscles of able-bodied subjects to record EMG activity during wrist and finger movements in various postures. EMG activity of all the recorded finger muscles were significantly different (p<.05, ANOVA) when performing the same movement in five different wrist postures. EMG activity varied by up to 70%, with the highest levels of activity observed in finger extensors when the wrist was extended. Similarly, finger flexors were most active when the wrist was flexed. For the finger flexors, EMG variations with wrist posture were most prominent for index finger muscles, while the EMG activity of all finger extensor muscles were similarly modulated. The extrinsic finger muscles also showed significant activity during wrist movements with the digits held still regardless of finger posture, suggesting that they may play a role in generating torque during wrist movements. Finally, we developed a pair of generalized classifiers that show that finger muscle EMG can be used to predict wrist posture. These results may impact the design of biomimetic control algorithms for myoelectric prosthetic hands, but further work in transradial amputees is necessary to determine whether this phenomenon persists after amputation.

Distribution and Characteristics of Poststimulus Effects in Proximal and Distal Forelimb Muscles From Red Nucleus in the Monkey

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1777-1789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abderraouf Belhaj-Saïf ◽  
Jennifer Hill Karrer ◽  
Paul D. Cheney
Keyword(s):  
Functional Organization ◽  
Red Nucleus ◽  
Muscle Synergy ◽  
Reaching Movements ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Hand Muscles ◽  
Extensor Muscles ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Forelimb Muscles ◽  
Intrinsic Hand Muscles

Belhaj-Saı̈f, Abderraouf, Jennifer Hill Karrer, and Paul D. Cheney. Distribution and characteristics of poststimulus effects in proximal and distal forelimb muscles from red nucleus in the monkey. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1777–1789, 1998. We used stimulus-triggered averaging (StTA) of electromyographic (EMG) activity to investigate two major questions concerning the functional organization of the magnocellular red nucleus (RNm) for reaching movements in the macaque monkey. The first is whether the clear preference toward facilitation of extensor muscles we have reported in previous studies for distal (wrist and digit) forelimb muscles also exists for proximal muscles (shoulder and elbow). The second question is whether distal and proximal muscles may be cofacilitated from RNm suggesting the representation of functional muscle synergies for coordinated reaching movements. Two monkeys were trained to perform a prehension task requiring multijoint coordination of the forelimb. EMG activity was recorded from 24 forelimb muscles including 5 shoulder, 7 elbow, 5 wrist, 5 digit, and 2 intrinsic hand muscles. Microstimulation (20 μA at 20 Hz) was delivered throughout the movement task. From 137 microstimulation sites in the RNm, a total of 977 poststimulus effects was obtained including 733 poststimulus facilitation effects (PStF) and 244 poststimulus suppression effects (PStS). Of the PStF effects, 58% were obtained from distal muscles; 42% from proximal muscles. Digit muscles were more frequently facilitated (35%) than the wrist, elbow, or shoulder muscles (20, 24, and 18%, respectively). The intrinsic hand muscles were infrequently facilitated (3%). At all joints tested, PStF was more common in extensor muscles than flexor muscles. This extensor preference was very strong for shoulder (85%), wrist (85%), and digit muscles (94%) and weaker for elbow muscles (60%). Of the PStS effects, 65% were in distal muscles and 35% in proximal muscles. Interestingly, the flexor muscles were more frequently inhibited from RNm than extensor muscles. At 72% of stimulation sites, at least two muscles were facilitated. The majority of these sites (61%) cofacilitated both proximal and distal muscles. At the remaining sites (39%), PStF was observed in either the proximal (17%) or distal muscles (22%). Facilitation most often involved combinations of shoulder, elbow, and distal muscles (30%) or shoulder and distal muscles (26%). Only rarely were intrinsic hand muscles part of the total muscle synergy. Our results show that the RNm 1) controls both proximal and distal muscles but the strength of influence is biased toward distal muscles, 2) preferentially controls extensor muscles not only at distal forelimb joints but also at proximal joints, and 3) output zones cofacilitate synergies of proximal and distal muscles involved in the control of forelimb reaching movements.

Effects on wrist and digit muscle activity from microstimuli applied at the sites of rubromotoneuronal cells in primates

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 1978-1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Cheney ◽  
K. Mewes ◽  
G. Widener
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Companion Paper ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Cell Aggregates ◽  
Onset Latency ◽  
Wrist Movement ◽  
Extensor Muscles ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Stimulus Triggered Averaging ◽  
Forearm Flexor

1. The purpose of this study was to use the techniques of spike- and stimulus-triggered averaging (SpTA and StTA, respectively) to examine the output organization of individual rubromotoneuronal (RM) cells in relation to clusters of neighboring cells. SpTA of electromyographic (EMG) activity in awake monkeys reveals the target muscles of an individual recorded neuron, whereas StTA reveals the target muscles of the neuronal aggregate activated by the stimulus. 2. Three questions were of particular interest. First, does the pattern of poststimulus facilitation (PStF) across forearm muscles match the pattern of postspike facilitation (PSpF)? Second, does the output of RM cell aggregates tested with StTA favor forearm extensor muscles, as reported for individual RM cells in the companion paper? Third, how do RM poststimulus effects compare with corticomotoneuronal (CM) poststimulus effects? 3. Microstimuli were applied at the sites of 37 RM cells, identified by SpTA of EMG activity in awake monkeys performing an alternating wrist movement task. 4. The magnitudes of PStF at 5, 10, and 20 microA were, respectively, 4.3, 10.1, and 13.7 times greater than PSpF of the same muscles, reflecting activation, by the stimulus, of multiple RM cells. RM cell PStF was weaker than CM PStF. 5. The onset latency of poststimulus suppression (PStS) exceeded that of PStF. For example, at 20 microA the difference was 2.6 ms, comparable with the difference between PSpF and postspike suppression (PSpS). 6. The patterns of poststimulus effects on forearm flexor and extensor muscles were categorized in the same manner as postspike effects. Three major patterns were observed: 1) pure facilitation, 2) reciprocal suppression, and 3) cofacilitation of extensors and flexors. 7. The profile of PStF across synergist muscles was broadly similar to that of PSpF. At 83% of sites, the muscle with the greatest PSpF was also the muscle with the greatest PStF. At 30% of sites (11 of 37), the set of muscles with PStF (muscle field) exactly matched the set with PSpF. Overall, the level of discrepancies in SpTAs versus StTAs computed at the same RM cell sites was 27%. Most of these discrepancies could be attributed to muscles with the weakest effects. 8. The fact that the poststimulus muscle fields at many RM cell sites matched the postspike fields at the same sites, even though the poststimulus effects were greater in magnitude and were mediated by more cells, suggests clustering of RM cells with similar target motoneuron pools.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Breathing route influences upper airway muscle activity in awake normal adults

1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1766-1771 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Basner ◽  
P. M. Simon ◽  
R. M. Schwartzstein ◽  
S. E. Weinberger ◽  
J. W. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Mouth Breathing ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Bipolar Electrodes ◽  
Inspiratory Resistance ◽  
Topical Nasal Anesthesia

Both nasal obstruction and nasal anesthesia result in disordered breathing during sleep in humans, and bypassing the nasal route during tidal breathing in experimental animals produces decreased electromyographic activity of upper airway (UA) dilating muscles. To investigate UA responses to breathing route in normal awake humans, we studied eight healthy males (ages 21–38 yr) during successive trials of voluntary nose breathing (N), voluntary mouth breathing (M), and mouth breathing with nose occluded (MO). We measured genioglossus electromyographic activity (EMGgg) with perorally inserted bipolar electrodes, alae nasi (EMGan) and diaphragm EMG activity (EMGdi) with surface electrodes, and minute ventilation (VE) with a pneumotachograph. Mean phasic inspiratory EMG activity of both UA muscles was significantly greater during N than during M or MO, even when a 2.5-cmH2O.l-1.s inspiratory resistance was added to MO (P less than 0.01). In contrast, neither EMGdi nor VE was consistently affected by breathing route. EMGgg during N was significantly decreased after selective topical nasal anesthesia (P less than 0.002); a decrease in EMGan did not achieve statistical significance. These data suggest that peak UA dilating muscle activity may be modulated by superficial receptors in the nasal mucosa sensitive to airflow.

Plasticity of Reflexes From the Foot During Locomotion After Denervating Ankle Extensors in Intact Cats

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 2122-2132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Frigon ◽  
Serge Rossignol
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Lateral Gastrocnemius ◽  
Cuff Electrode ◽  
Hindlimb Muscles ◽  
Reflex Pathways ◽  
Peripheral Nerve Lesions ◽  
Extensor Muscles ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Limb Kinematics

Although sensory feedback is important in regulating the timing and magnitude of muscle activity during locomotion few studies have evaluated how it changes after peripheral nerve lesions. To assess this, reflexes evoked by stimulating a nerve before and after denervating other nerves can be quantified to determine changes. The aim of this study was to investigate consequences of denervating ankle extensor muscles, the lateral gastrocnemius, and soleus (LGS) on reflexes from the plantar foot surface evoked by stimulating the tibialis (Tib) nerve. Three cats ( n = 3) were trained to walk on a treadmill and chronically implanted with electrodes in 14 hindlimb muscles bilaterally to record EMG activity. A stimulating cuff electrode was placed around the left Tib nerve (Tib) nerve at the ankle to evoke reflexes. Several control values of EMGs, limb kinematics, and Tib nerve reflexes were obtained during locomotion for at least 3 wk before the left LGS nerve was cut. We found that the locomotor EMG bursts of several muscles was altered, with a large increase in amplitude in the early days postneurectomy followed by a gradual decrease toward intact values later on. There were changes in the stimulated locomotor EMG bursts (Tib nerve reflexes) of ipsilateral flexors and extensors and of contralateral ankle extensors, which dissociated from changes in baseline locomotor EMG (e.g., nonstimulated bursts during reflex trials). The functional significance of these changes in muscle activity and reflex pathways on the recovery of locomotion after denervating ankle extensors is discussed.

Myoelectric Activity Differences in Three Learning Sessions

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-96
Author(s):  
Tiina Ritvanen ◽  
Reijo Koskelo ◽  
Osmo H„nninen
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Myoelectric Activity ◽  
School Students ◽  
Language Laboratory ◽  
Upper Trapezius ◽  
Muscle Groups

Abstract This study follows muscle activity in three different learning sessions (computer, language laboratory, and normal classroom) while students were studying foreign languages. Myoelectric activity was measured in 21 high school students (10 girls, 11 boys, age range 17-20 years) by surface electromyography (sEMG) from the upper trapezius and frontalis muscles during three 45-min sessions. Root mean square (RMS) average from both investigated muscles was calculated. The EMG activity was highest in both muscle groups in the computer-aided session and lowest in the language laboratory. The girls had higher EMG activity in both investigated muscle groups in all three learning situations. The measured blood pressure was highest at the beginning of the sessions, decreased within 10 min, but increased again toward the end of the sessions. Our results indicate that the use of a computer as a teaching-aid evokes more constant muscle activity than the traditional learning situations. Since muscle tension can have adverse health consequences, more research is needed to determine optimal classroom conditions, especially when technical aids are used in teaching.

scholarly journals Exhausting repetitive piano tasks lead to local forearm manifestation of muscle fatigue and negatively affect musical parameters

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Goubault ◽  
Felipe Verdugo ◽  
Justine Pelletier ◽  
Caroline Traube ◽  
Mickaël Begon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Sound Intensity ◽  
Musical Performance ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Central Feature ◽  
Median Frequency ◽  
Piano Performance ◽  
Bipolar Electrodes ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Extensor Muscles

AbstractMuscle fatigue is considered as a risk factor for developing playing-related muscular disorders among professional pianists and could affect musical performance. This study investigated in 50 pianists the effect of fatiguing repetitive piano sequences on the development of forearm muscle fatigue and on piano performance parameters. Results showed signs of myoelectric manifestation of fatigue in the 42-electromyographic bipolar electrodes positioned on the forearm to record finger and wrist flexor and extensor muscles, through a significant non-constant decrease of instantaneous median frequency during two repetitive Digital (right-hand 16-tones sequence) and Chord (right-hand chords sequence) excerpts, with extensor muscles showing greater signs of fatigue than flexor muscles. In addition, muscle fatigue negatively affected key velocity, a central feature of piano sound intensity, in both Digital and Chord excerpts, and note-events, a fundamental aspect of musicians’ performance parameter, in the Chord excerpt only. This result highlights that muscle fatigue may alter differently pianists’ musical performance according to the characteristics of the piece played.

scholarly journals Rostrocaudal Distribution of the C-Fos-Immunopositive Spinal Network Defined by Muscle Activity during Locomotion

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Natalia Merkulyeva ◽  
Vsevolod Lyakhovetskii ◽  
Aleksandr Veshchitskii ◽  
Oleg Gorskii ◽  
Pavel Musienko
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Lumbosacral Spinal Cord ◽  
Adductor Muscles ◽  
Spinal Network ◽  
Hip Flexor

The optimization of multisystem neurorehabilitation protocols including electrical spinal cord stimulation and multi-directional tasks training require understanding of underlying circuits mechanisms and distribution of the neuronal network over the spinal cord. In this study we compared the locomotor activity during forward and backward stepping in eighteen adult decerebrated cats. Interneuronal spinal networks responsible for forward and backward stepping were visualized using the C-Fos technique. A bi-modal rostrocaudal distribution of C-Fos-immunopositive neurons over the lumbosacral spinal cord (peaks in the L4/L5 and L6/S1 segments) was revealed. These patterns were compared with motoneuronal pools using Vanderhorst and Holstege scheme; the location of the first peak was correspondent to the motoneurons of the hip flexors and knee extensors, an inter-peak drop was presumably attributed to the motoneurons controlling the adductor muscles. Both were better expressed in cats stepping forward and in parallel, electromyographic (EMG) activity of the hip flexor and knee extensors was higher, while EMG activity of the adductor was lower, during this locomotor mode. On the basis of the present data, which showed greater activity of the adductor muscles and the attributed interneuronal spinal network during backward stepping and according with data about greater demands on postural control systems during backward locomotion, we suppose that the locomotor networks for movements in opposite directions are at least partially different.

Respiratory Activity of the Rat Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle

1997 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 897-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Berkowitz ◽  
John Chalmers ◽  
Qi-Jian Sun ◽  
Paul M. Pilowsky
Keyword(s):  
Phrenic Nerve ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Electrophysiological Study ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Diaphragmatic Muscle ◽  
Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle ◽  
Inspiratory Activity ◽  
Intramuscular Nerve ◽  
Posterior Cricoarytenoid ◽  
Nerve Discharge

An anatomic and electrophysiological study of the rat posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle is described. The intramuscular nerve distribution of the PCA branch of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was demonstrated by a modified Sihler's stain. The nerve to the PCA was found to terminate in superior and inferior branches with a distribution that appeared to be confined to the PCA muscle. Electromyography (EMG) recordings of PCA muscle activity in anesthetized rats were obtained under stereotaxic control together with measurement of phrenic nerve discharge. A total of 151 recordings were made in 7 PCA muscles from 4 rats. Phasic inspiratory activity with a waveform similar to that of phrenic nerve discharge was found in 134 recordings, while a biphasic pattern with both inspiratory and post-inspiratory peaks was recorded from random sites within the PCA muscle on 17 occasions. The PCA EMG activity commenced 24.6 ± 2.2 milliseconds (p < .0001) before phrenic nerve discharge. The results are in accord with findings of earlier studies that show that PCA muscle activity commences prior to inspiratory airflow and diaphragmatic muscle activity. The data suggest that PCA and diaphragm motoneurons share common or similar medullary pre-motoneurons. The earlier onset of PCA muscle activity may indicate a role for medullary pre-inspiratory neurons in initiating PCA activity.

scholarly journals An Electromyographic Analysis of the Deep Cervical Flexor Muscles in Performance of Craniocervical Flexion

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 899-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Falla ◽  
Gwendolen Jull ◽  
Paul Dall'Alba ◽  
Alberto Rainoldi ◽  
Roberto Merletti
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Bipolar Electrodes ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Reliability Estimates ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Electromyographic Analysis ◽  
Electromyographic Signals

Abstract Background and Purpose. This study evaluated an electromyographic technique for the measurement of muscle activity of the deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles. Electromyographic signals were detected from the DCF, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and anterior scalene (AS) muscles during performance of the craniocervical flexion (CCF) test, which involves performing 5 stages of increasing craniocervical flexion range of motion—the anatomical action of the DCF muscles. Subjects. Ten volunteers without known pathology or impairment participated in this study. Methods. Root-mean-square (RMS) values were calculated for the DCF, SCM, and AS muscles during performance of the CCF test. Myoelectric signals were recorded from the DCF muscles using bipolar electrodes placed over the posterior oropharyngeal wall. Reliability estimates of normalized RMS values were obtained by evaluating intraclass correlation coefficients and the normalized standard error of the mean (SEM). Results. A linear relationship was evident between the amplitude of DCF muscle activity and the incremental stages of the CCF test (F=239.04, df=36, P&lt;.0001). Normalized SEMs in the range 6.7% to 10.3% were obtained for the normalized RMS values for the DCF muscles, providing evidence of reliability for these variables. Discussion and Conclusion. This approach for obtaining a direct measure of the DCF muscles, which differs from those previously used, may be useful for the examination of these muscles in future electromyographic applications.

Plasticity in the Distribution of the Red Nucleus Output to Forearm Muscles After Unilateral Lesions of the Pyramidal Tract

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 3147-3153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abderraouf Belhaj-Saïf ◽  
Paul D. Cheney
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Tract ◽  
Red Nucleus ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Motor Impairments ◽  
Forearm Muscles ◽  
Extensor Muscles ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
Lesion Method ◽  
Stimulus Triggered Averaging ◽  
Suppression Effects

It has been hypothesized that the magnocellular red nucleus (RNm) contributes to compensation for motor impairments associated with lesions of the pyramidal tract. To test this hypothesis, we used stimulus triggered averaging (StTA) of electromyographic (EMG) activity to characterize changes in motor output from the red nucleus after lesions of the pyramidal tract. Three monkeys were trained to perform a reach and prehension task. EMG activity was recorded from 11 forearm muscles including one elbow, five wrist, and five digit muscles. Microstimulation (20 μA at 20 Hz) was delivered throughout the movement task to compute StTAs. Two monkeys served as controls. In a third monkey, 65% of the left pyramidal tract had been destroyed by an electrolytic lesion method five years before recording. The results demonstrate a clear pattern of postlesion reorganization in red nucleus–mediated output effects on forearm muscles. The normally prominent extensor preference in excitatory output from the RNm (92% in extensors) was greatly diminished in the lesioned monkey (59%). Similarly, suppression effects, which are normally much more prominent in flexor than in extensor muscles (90% in flexors), were also more evenly distributed after recovery from pyramidal tract lesions. Because of the limited excitatory output from the RNm to flexor muscles that normally exists, loss of corticospinal output would leave control of flexors particularly weak. The changes in RNm organization reported in this study would help restore function to flexor muscles. These results support the hypothesis that the RNm is capable of reorganization that contributes to the recovery of forelimb motor function after pyramidal tract lesions.

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