Swing Phase Resistance Enhances Flexor Muscle Activity During Treadmill Locomotion in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 438-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Lam ◽  
Markus Wirz ◽  
Lars Lünenburger ◽  
Volker Dietz
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Flexor Muscle ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Treadmill Locomotion

scholarly journals Changes in Locomotor Muscle Activity After Treadmill Training in Subjects With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 969-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica A. Gorassini ◽  
Jonathan A. Norton ◽  
Jennifer Nevett-Duchcherer ◽  
Francois D. Roy ◽  
Jaynie F. Yang
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Treadmill Training ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Muscle Activation Patterns ◽  
Cord Injury

Intensive treadmill training after incomplete spinal cord injury can improve functional walking abilities. To determine the changes in muscle activation patterns that are associated with improvements in walking, we measured the electromyography (EMG) of leg muscles in 17 individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury during similar walking conditions both before and after training. Specific differences were observed between subjects that eventually gained functional improvements in overground walking (responders), compared with subjects where treadmill training was ineffective (nonresponders). Although both groups developed a more regular and less clonic EMG pattern on the treadmill, it was only the tibialis anterior and hamstring muscles in the responders that displayed increases in EMG activation. Likewise, only the responders demonstrated decreases in burst duration and cocontraction of proximal (hamstrings and quadriceps) muscle activity. Surprisingly, the proximal muscle activity in the responders, unlike nonresponders, was three- to fourfold greater than that in uninjured control subjects walking at similar speeds and level of body weight support, suggesting that the ability to modify muscle activation patterns after injury may predict the ability of subjects to further compensate in response to motor training. In summary, increases in the amount and decreases in the duration of EMG activity of specific muscles are associated with functional recovery of walking skills after treadmill training in subjects that are able to modify muscle activity patterns following incomplete spinal cord injury.

scholarly journals Metabolic Costs and Muscle Activity Patterns During Robotic- and Therapist-Assisted Treadmill Walking in Individuals With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 1466-1478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey F Israel ◽  
Donielle D Campbell ◽  
Jennifer H Kahn ◽  
T George Hornby
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Swing Phase ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Robotic Device ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Robotic Assisted ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Metabolic Costs

AbstractBackground and Purpose. Robotic devices that provide passive guidance and stabilization of the legs and trunk during treadmill stepping may increase the delivery of locomotor training to subjects with neurological injury. Lower-extremity guidance also may reduce voluntary muscle activity as compared with compliant assistance provided by therapists. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in metabolic costs and lower-limb muscle activity patterns during robotic- and therapist-assisted treadmill walking. Subjects. Twelve ambulatory subjects with motor incomplete spinal cord injury participated. Methods. In 2 separate protocols, metabolic and electromyographic (EMG) data were collected during standing and stepping on a treadmill with therapist and robotic assistance. During robotic-assisted walking, subjects were asked to match the kinematic trajectories of the device and maximize their effort. During therapist-assisted walking, subjects walked on the treadmill with manual assistance provided as necessary. Results. Metabolic costs and swing-phase hip flexor EMG activity were significantly lower when subjects were asked to match the robotic device trajectories than with therapist-assisted walking. These differences were reduced when subjects were asked to maximize their effort during robotic-assisted stepping, although swing-phase plantar-flexor EMG activity was increased. In addition, during standing prior to therapist- or robotic-assisted stepping, metabolic costs were higher without stabilization from the robotic device. Discussion and Conclusion. Differences in metabolic costs and muscle activity patterns between therapist- and robotic-assisted standing and stepping illustrate the importance of minimizing passive guidance and stabilization provided during step training protocols.

scholarly journals Energy expenditure and muscle activity during lying, sitting, standing, and walking in people with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1008-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Dekker ◽  
Olaf Verschuren ◽  
Astrid C. J. Balemans ◽  
Nadia Baart ◽  
Frank Tubbing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cord Injury
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