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Chen X, Dong X, Feng Y, Jiao Y, Yu J, Song Y, Li X, Zhang L, Hou P, Xie P. Muscle activation patterns and muscle synergies reflect different modes of coordination during upper extremity movement. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 16:912440. [PMID: 36741782 PMCID: PMC9889926 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.912440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
A core issue in motor control is how the central nervous system generates and selects the muscle activation patterns necessary to achieve a variety of behaviors and movements. Extensive studies have verified that it is the foundation to induce a complex movement by the modular combinations of several muscles with a synergetic relationship. However, a few studies focus on the synergetic similarity and dissimilarity among different types of movements, especially for the upper extremity movements. In this study, we introduced the non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) method to explore the muscle activation patterns and synergy structure under 6 types of movements, involving the hand open (HO), hand close (HC), wrist flexion (WF), wrist extension (WE), supination (SU), and pronation (PR). For this, we enrolled 10 healthy subjects to record the electromyography signal for NMF calculation. The results showed a highly modular similarity of the muscle synergy among subjects under the same movement. Furthermore, Spearman's correlation analysis indicated significant similarities among HO-WE, HO-SU, and WE-SU (p < 0.001). Additionally, we also found shared synergy and special synergy in activation patterns among different movements. This study confirmed the theory of modular structure in the central nervous system, which yields a stable synergetic pattern under the same movement. Our findings on muscle synergy will be of great significance to motor control and even to clinical assessment techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Chen
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China,Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Xiaojiao Dong
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Yange Feng
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Yuntao Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Jian Yu
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Yan Song
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Xinxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Lijie Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Peiguo Hou
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China,Peiguo Hou,
| | - Ping Xie
- Key Laboratory of Measurement Technology and Instrumentation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China,Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China,*Correspondence: Ping Xie,
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Wang Y, Watanabe K, Asaka T. Anticipatory and Compensatory Postural Adjustments in Response to Dynamic Platform Perturbation during a Forward Step. J Mot Behav 2022; 55:31-38. [PMID: 35876130 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2022.2092440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the generation of anticipatory (APAs) and compensatory postural adjustments (CPAs) in preparation for a step during support surface perturbation. Changes in anticipatory muscle activation in the trunk segment were predominantly in the co-contraction indices from -600 t0 -400 ms to foot-off. Reciprocal indices of the shank muscles were pronounced in the APA intervals. During the CPA intervals, larger reciprocal muscle activities were detected compared to the APA intervals. The results showed subjects co-varied the reciprocal and co-contraction activations in postural muscles to counteract the perturbation and generate mechanical effects sufficient for stepping during the APA and CPA intervals. This study enhances our understanding of the interaction between the APAs and CPAs in balance maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Tianjin Key Lab of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, College of Social Sport and Health Science, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China
| | | | - Tadayoshi Asaka
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Muscle synergy differences between voluntary and reactive backward stepping. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15462. [PMID: 34326376 PMCID: PMC8322057 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94699-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive stepping responses are essential to prevent falls after a loss of balance. It has previously been well described that both voluntary and reactive step training could improve the efficacy of reactive stepping in different populations. However, the effect of aging on neuromuscular control during voluntary and reactive stepping remains unclear. Electromyography (EMG) signals during both backward voluntary stepping in response to an auditory cue and backward reactive stepping elicited by a forward slip-like treadmill perturbation during stance were recorded in ten healthy young adults and ten healthy older adults. Using muscle synergy analysis, we extracted the muscle synergies for both voluntary and reactive stepping. Our results showed that fewer muscle synergies were used during reactive stepping than during voluntary stepping in both young and older adults. Minor differences in the synergy structure were observed for both voluntary and reactive stepping between age groups. Our results indicate that there is a low similarity of muscle synergies between voluntary stepping and reactive stepping and that aging had a limited effect on the structure of muscle synergies. This study enhances our understanding of the neuromuscular basis of both voluntary and reactive stepping as well as the potential effect of aging on neuromuscular control during balance tasks.
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Wang Y, Watanabe K, Asaka T. Effect of dance on multi-muscle synergies in older adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 2019; 19:340. [PMID: 31795946 PMCID: PMC6889198 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-019-1365-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of dance in the experienced older dancers compared to the inexperienced older adults. We explored the effect of dance on the composition of muscle groups and multi-muscle synergies stabilizing the center of pressure (COP) displacement in preparation to take a step during support surface translation. METHODS Eight dance experienced elderly participants were asked to take a step in response to support surface perturbations. Uncontrolled manifold analysis was used to identify muscle modes (M-modes) as factors in the muscle activation space. Variance components in the M-mode space and indices of M-mode synergy stabilizing COP displacement were computed. RESULTS The reciprocal M-modes were observed more frequently in the dance group than in the control group prior to the step initiation. Dance led to higher indices of multi-muscle synergies and earlier anticipatory synergy adjustments during preparation for making a step in response to the support surface translations. CONCLUSIONS Dance appeared to be associated with adjustments in both the composition of M-modes and M-mode co-variation patterns resulting in stronger synergies stabilizing COP coordinate in older adults. The results reported here could have clinical relevance when offering a dance approach to balance training for impaired individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Tianjin Key Lab of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, College of Social Sport and Health Sciences, Tianjin University of Sport, 16 Donghai Road, Tuanbo Xincheng Xiqu, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617 China
| | - Kazuhiko Watanabe
- Institute of Sports and Health Science, 3-10-31, Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-0046 Japan
| | - Tadayoshi Asaka
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, N12-W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0826 Japan
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Aging effect on muscle synergies in stepping forth during a forward perturbation. Eur J Appl Physiol 2016; 117:201-211. [PMID: 28004203 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-016-3514-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We explored changes in muscle interactions during healthy aging as a window into neural control strategies of postural preparation to action/perturbation. In particular, we quantified the strength of multi-muscle synergies stabilizing the center of pressure (COP) displacement during the preparation for making a step associated with support surface translations. METHODS Young and elderly subjects were required to make a step in response to support surface perturbations. Surface muscle activity of 11 leg and trunk muscles was analyzed to identify sets of 4 muscle modes (M-modes). Linear combinations of M-modes and their relationship to changes in the COP displacement in the anterior-posterior direction were then determined. Uncontrolled manifold analysis was performed to determine variance components in the M-mode space and indices of M-mode synergy stabilizing COP displacement. RESULTS Prior to the step initiation, the older subjects showed strong synergies that stabilized COP displacement to forward perturbation of the support surface. However, the synergy indices were significantly lower than those of the young subjects during preparation for making a step. The timings of early postural adjustment (EPA) and anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) were consistently earlier in the young subjects as compared to the older subjects. For both groups, the timing of EPA did not change across tasks, while APA showed delayed timing in response to the support surface translations. CONCLUSIONS We infer that changes in the indices of synergies with age may present challenges for the control of postural preparation to external perturbation in older adults. They may lead to excessive muscle co-contractions and low stability of COP displacement. The results reported here could have clinical relevance when identifying the risk of making a step, which has been linked to an increased risk of falls among the elderly.
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