scholarly journals Migration of Motor Pool Activity in the Spinal Cord Reflects Body Mechanics in Human Locomotion

2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 3064-3073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Germana Cappellini ◽  
Yuri P. Ivanenko ◽  
Nadia Dominici ◽  
Richard E. Poppele ◽  
Francesco Lacquaniti
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Human Locomotion ◽  
The Body ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Mass Motion ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
Motoneuron Activity ◽  
Body Center

During the evolution of bipedal modes of locomotion, a sequential rostrocaudal activation of trunk muscles due to the undulatory body movements was replaced by more complex and discrete bursts of activity. Nevertheless, the capacity for segmental rhythmogenesis and the rostrocaudal propagation of spinal cord activity has been conserved. In humans, motoneurons of different muscles are arranged in columns, with a specific grouping of muscles at any given segmental level. The muscle patterns of locomotor activity and the biomechanics of the body center of mass have been studied extensively, but their interrelationship remains poorly understood. Here we mapped the electromyographic activity recorded from 30 bilateral leg muscles onto the spinal cord in approximate rostrocaudal locations of the motoneuron pools during walking and running in humans. We found that the rostrocaudal displacements of the center of bilateral motoneuron activity mirrored the changes in the energy due to the center-of-body mass motion. The results suggest that biomechanical mechanisms of locomotion, such as the inverted pendulum in walking and the pogo-stick bouncing in running, may be tightly correlated with specific modes of progression of motor pool activity rostrocaudally in the spinal cord.

Spinal Cord Maps of Spatiotemporal Alpha-Motoneuron Activation in Humans Walking at Different Speeds

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 602-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. P. Ivanenko ◽  
R. E. Poppele ◽  
F. Lacquaniti
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Trunk Muscles ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Human Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Segments ◽  
Motoneuron Activity ◽  
Pattern Generators ◽  
Walking Speeds

Functional MRI (fMRI) imaging of motoneuron activity in the human spinal cord is still in its infancy, and it will remain difficult to apply to walking. Here we present a viable alternative for documenting the spatiotemporal maps of α-motorneuron (MN) activity in the human spinal cord during walking, similar to the method recently reported for the cat. We recorded EMG activity from 16 to 32 ipsilateral limb and trunk muscles in 13 healthy subjects walking on a treadmill at different speeds (1–7 km/h) and mapped the recorded patterns onto the spinal cord in approximate rostrocaudal locations of the motoneuron pools. This approach can provide information about pattern generator output during locomotion in terms of segmental control rather than in terms of individual muscle control. A striking feature we found is that nearly every spinal segment undergoes at least two cycles of activation in the step cycle, thus supporting the idea of half-center oscillators controlling MN activation at any segmental level. The resulting spatiotemporal map patterns seem highly stereotyped over the range of walking speeds studied, although there were also some systematic redistributions of MN activity with speed. Bursts of MN activity were either temporally aligned across several spinal segments or switched between different segments. For example, the center of mass of MN activity in the lumbosacral levels generally shifted from rostral to caudal positions in two cycles for each step, revealing four major activation foci: two in the upper lumbar segments and two in the sacral segments. The results are consistent with the presence of at least two and possibly more pattern generators controlling the activation of lumbosacral MNs.

scholarly journals Effect of foot–floor friction on the external moment about the body center of mass during shuffling gait: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Yamaguchi ◽  
Kei Shibata ◽  
Hiromi Wada ◽  
Hiroshi Kakehi ◽  
Kazuo Hokkirigawa
Keyword(s):  
Friction Surface ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Young Male ◽  
The Body ◽  
Low Friction ◽  
Surface Conditions ◽  
Normal Gait ◽  
External Moment ◽  
Body Center ◽  
Floor Condition

AbstractHerein, we investigated the effect of friction between foot sole and floor on the external forward moment about the body center of mass (COM) in normal and shuffling gaits. Five young male adults walked with normal and shuffling gaits, under low- and high-friction surface conditions. The maximum external forward moment about the COM (MEFM-COM) in a normal gait appeared approximately at initial foot contact and was unaffected by floor condition. However, MEFM-COM in a shuffling gait under high-friction conditions exceeded that under low-friction conditions (p < 0.001). Therein, MEFM-COM increased with an increasing utilized coefficient of friction at initial foot contact; this effect was weaker during a normal gait. These findings indicate that increased friction between foot sole and floor might increase tripping risk during a shuffling gait, even in the absence of discrete physical obstacles.

Long bone cross-sectional geometry

2020 ◽  
pp. 307-320
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Ruff ◽  
Ryan W. Higgins ◽  
Kristian J. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Lateral Displacement ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Gait Pattern ◽  
Locomotor Behavior ◽  
The Body ◽  
Long Bone ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Body Center

Long bone diaphyseal cross-sectional geometries reflect the mechanical properties of the bones, and can be used to aid in inferences of locomotor behavior in extinct hominins. This chapter considers all available long bone diaphyseal and femoral neck cross-sections of specimens from Sterkfontein Member 4, and presents comparisons of these section properties and other cross-sectional dimensions with those of other early hominins as well as modern samples. The cross-sectional geometry of the Sterkfontein Member 4 long bone specimens suggests some similarities to, but also interesting differences in, mechanical loading of these elements relative to modern humans. The less asymmetric cortical bone distribution in the Sterkfontein femoral necks is consistent with other evidence above indicating an altered gait pattern involving lateral displacement of the body center of mass over the stance limb. The relatively very strong upper limb of StW 431 implies that arboreal behavior formed a significant component of its locomotor repertoire. Bipedal gait may have been less efficient and arboreal climbing more prevalent in the Sterkfontein hominins.

Time-To-Contact Analysis of Gait Stability in the Swing Phase of Walking in People With Multiple Sclerosis

Motor Control ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jebb G. Remelius ◽  
Richard E.A. van Emmerik
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
The Body ◽  
Head Movements ◽  
Gait Stability ◽  
Time To Contact ◽  
Prospective Control ◽  
Body Center ◽  
All Speeds

This study investigated timing and coordination during the swing phase of swing leg, body center of mass (CoM) and head during walking people with multiple sclerosis (MS; n = 19) and controls (n = 19). The MS group showed differences in swing phase timing at all speeds. At imposed but not preferred speeds, the MS group had less time to prepare for entry into the unstable equilibrium, as the CoM entered this phase of swing earlier. Time-to-contact coupling, quantifying the coordination between the CoM and the swing foot, was not different between groups. The projection of head motion on the ground occurred earlier after toeoff and was positioned closer to the body in the MS group, illustrating increased reliance on visual exproprioception in which vision of the body in relation to the surface of support is established. Finally, prospective control, linking head movements to the swing foot time-to-contact and next step landing area, was impaired in the MS group at higher gait speeds.

scholarly journals Symmetry Analysis of Amputee Gait Based on Body Center of Mass Trajectory and Discrete Fourier Transform

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 2392
Author(s):  
Claudia Ochoa-Diaz ◽  
Antônio Padilha L. Bó
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Sine Wave ◽  
The Body ◽  
Compensatory Mechanisms ◽  
Magnitude Spectrum ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Gait Mechanics ◽  
Body Center ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Amputee Gait

The calculation of symmetry in amputee gait is a valuable tool to assess the functional aspects of lower limb prostheses and how it impacts the overall gait mechanics. This paper analyzes the vertical trajectory of the body center of mass (CoM) of a group formed by transfemoral amputees and non-amputees to quantitatively compare the symmetry level of this parameter for both cases. A decomposition of the vertical CoM into discrete Fourier series (DFS) components is performed for each subject’s CoM trajectory to identify the main components of each pattern. A DFS-based index is then calculated to quantify the CoM symmetry level. The obtained results show that the CoM displays different patterns along a gait cycle for each amputee, which differ from the sine-wave shape obtained in the non-amputee case. The CoM magnitude spectrum also reveals more coefficients for the amputee waveforms. The different CoM trajectories found in the studied subjects can be thought as the manifestation of developed compensatory mechanisms, which lead to gait asymmetries. The presence of odd components in the magnitude spectrum is related to the asymmetric behavior of the CoM trajectory, given the fact that this signal is an even function for a non-amputee gait. The DFS-based index reflects this fact due to the high value obtained for the non-amputee reference, in comparison to the low values for each amputee.

Effect of vertical loading on energy cost and kinematics of running in trained male subjects

1995 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 2078-2085 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bourdin ◽  
A. Belli ◽  
L. M. Arsac ◽  
C. Bosco ◽  
J. R. Lacour
Keyword(s):  
Energy Cost ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
The Body ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
External Work ◽  
Vertical Loading ◽  
Gastrocnemius Lateralis

This investigation examined, in a group of 10 trained male runners, the effect of vertical loading during level treadmill running at a velocity of 5 m/s. The net energy cost of running (Cr), the external work of the center of mass of the body (Wext; both expressed in J.kg-1.m-1), and the eccentric-to-concentric ratio (Ecc/Con) of integrated electromyographic activity for the vastus lateralis (VL) and gastrocnemius lateralis muscles were measured. It was observed that Wext and Ecc/Con for the VL could explain a large part of the interindividual variations in Cr. This result reinforces the hypothesis that Ecc/Con could be a good index of effectiveness in the stretch-shortening cycle. When the subjects ran with a vertical load of 9.3% of their body mass, Cr and Wext were significantly reduced (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), whereas Ecc/Con for the VL and gastrocnemius lateralis remained unchanged. The variations in Cr and Wext due to vertical loading were significantly correlated (r = 0.75; P < 0.01). It was then concluded that the significant improvement of Cr observed with the added load was mainly due to the fact that Wext was significantly decreased.

scholarly journals Can explicit visual feedback of postural sway efface the effects of sensory manipulations on mediolateral balance performance?

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 907-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Eduardo Cofré Lizama ◽  
Mirjam Pijnappels ◽  
N. Peter Reeves ◽  
Sabine M. P. Verschueren ◽  
Jaap H. van Dieën
Keyword(s):  
Visual Feedback ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Center ◽  
Explicit Feedback ◽  
Dominant Frequencies ◽  
Visual Conditions

Explicit visual feedback on postural sway is often used in balance assessment and training. However, up-weighting of visual information may mask impairments of other sensory systems. We therefore aimed to determine whether the effects of somatosensory, vestibular, and proprioceptive manipulations on mediolateral balance are reduced by explicit visual feedback on mediolateral sway of the body center of mass and by the presence of visual information. We manipulated sensory inputs of the somatosensory system by transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation on the feet soles (TENS) of the vestibular system by galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) and of the proprioceptive system by muscle-tendon vibration (VMS) of hip abductors. The effects of these manipulations on mediolateral sway were compared with a control condition without manipulation under three visual conditions: explicit feedback of sway of the body center of mass (FB), eyes open (EO), and eyes closed (EC). Mediolateral sway was quantified as the sum of energies in the power spectrum and as the energy at the dominant frequencies in each of the manipulation signals. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to test effects of each of the sensory manipulations, of visual conditions and their interaction. Overall, sensory manipulations increased body sway compared with the control conditions. Absence of normal visual information had no effect on sway, while explicit feedback reduced sway. Furthermore, interactions of visual information and sensory manipulation were found at specific dominant frequencies for GVS and VMS, with explicit feedback reducing the effects of the manipulations but not effacing these.

Body Segment Contributions to Javelin Throwing during Final Thrust Phases

1994 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mero Antti ◽  
Paavo V. Komi ◽  
Tapio Korjus ◽  
Enrique Navarro ◽  
Robert J. Gregor
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Segment ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Body Center ◽  
Joint Center ◽  
The Right ◽  
Release Speed

This study investigated body segment contributions to javelin throwing during the last thrust phases. A 3-D analysis was performed on male and female javelin throwers during the finals of the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. The subjects were videotaped from the right sight of the throwing area by two NAC high-speed cameras operating at 100 frames per second. Both men’s and women’s grip of javelin and body center of mass displayed a curved pathway to the right from the left (bracing) foot during the final foot contact. The position of the body center of mass decreased at the beginning of the final foot contact, but after the decrease period it began to increase. Simultaneously with the increase, the peak joint center speeds occurred in a proper sequence from proximal to distal segments and finally to the javelin at release. Release speed correlated significantly with throwing distance in both male and females.

Quantifying Segmental Contributions to Center-of-Mass Motion During Dynamic Continuous Support Surface Perturbations Using Simplified Estimation Models

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 198-208
Author(s):  
Alison Schinkel-Ivy ◽  
Vicki Komisar ◽  
Carolyn A. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Balance Control ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Mass Motion ◽  
Support Surface ◽  
Body Segments ◽  
Body Model ◽  
Full Body

Investigating balance reactions following continuous, multidirectional, support surface perturbations is essential for improving our understanding of balance control in moving environments. Segmental motions are often incorporated into rapid balance reactions following external perturbations to balance, although the effects of these motions during complex, continuous perturbations have not been assessed. This study aimed to quantify the contributions of body segments (ie, trunk, head, upper extremity, and lower extremity) to the control of center-of-mass (COM) movement during continuous, multidirectional, support surface perturbations. Three-dimensional, whole-body kinematics were captured while 10 participants experienced 5 minutes of perturbations. Anteroposterior, mediolateral, and vertical COM position and velocity were calculated using a full-body model and 7 models with reduced numbers of segments, which were compared with the full-body model. With removal of body segments, errors relative to the full-body model increased, while relationship strength decreased. The inclusion of body segments appeared to affect COM measures, particularly COM velocity. Findings suggest that the body segments may provide a means of improving the control of COM motion, primarily its velocity, during continuous, multidirectional perturbations, and constitute a step toward improving our understanding of how the limbs contribute to balance control in moving environments.

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