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Trabassi D, Castiglia SF, Bini F, Marinozzi F, Ajoudani A, Lorenzini M, Chini G, Varrecchia T, Ranavolo A, De Icco R, Casali C, Serrao M. Optimizing Rare Disease Gait Classification through Data Balancing and Generative AI: Insights from Hereditary Cerebellar Ataxia. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:3613. [PMID: 38894404 PMCID: PMC11175240 DOI: 10.3390/s24113613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The interpretability of gait analysis studies in people with rare diseases, such as those with primary hereditary cerebellar ataxia (pwCA), is frequently limited by the small sample sizes and unbalanced datasets. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of data balancing and generative artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in generating synthetic data reflecting the actual gait abnormalities of pwCA. Gait data of 30 pwCA (age: 51.6 ± 12.2 years; 13 females, 17 males) and 100 healthy subjects (age: 57.1 ± 10.4; 60 females, 40 males) were collected at the lumbar level with an inertial measurement unit. Subsampling, oversampling, synthetic minority oversampling, generative adversarial networks, and conditional tabular generative adversarial networks (ctGAN) were applied to generate datasets to be input to a random forest classifier. Consistency and explainability metrics were also calculated to assess the coherence of the generated dataset with known gait abnormalities of pwCA. ctGAN significantly improved the classification performance compared with the original dataset and traditional data augmentation methods. ctGAN are effective methods for balancing tabular datasets from populations with rare diseases, owing to their ability to improve diagnostic models with consistent explainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante Trabassi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy; (D.T.); (C.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy; (D.T.); (C.C.); (M.S.)
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Fabiano Bini
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (F.M.)
| | - Franco Marinozzi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy; (F.B.); (F.M.)
| | - Arash Ajoudani
- Department of Advanced Robotics, Italian Institute of Technology, 16163 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (M.L.)
| | - Marta Lorenzini
- Department of Advanced Robotics, Italian Institute of Technology, 16163 Genoa, Italy; (A.A.); (M.L.)
| | - Giorgia Chini
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (T.V.); (A.R.)
| | - Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (T.V.); (A.R.)
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (T.V.); (A.R.)
| | - Roberto De Icco
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
- Headache Science & Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlo Casali
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy; (D.T.); (C.C.); (M.S.)
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy; (D.T.); (C.C.); (M.S.)
- Movement Analysis Laboratory, Policlinico Italia, 00162 Rome, Italy
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Diella E, D’Angelo MG, Stefan C, Girardi G, Morganti R, Martinuzzi A, Biffi E. Validation of the Italian version of a patient-reported outcome measure for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301452. [PMID: 38557877 PMCID: PMC10984402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are recognized as valuable measures in the clinical setting. In 2018 we developed the Italian version of the "Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia-Self Notion and Perception Questionnaire" (HSP-SNAP), a disease-specific questionnaire that collects personal perception on motor symptoms related to HSP such as stiffness, weakness, imbalance, reduced endurance, fatigue and pain. In this study our primary aim was to assess the questionnaire validity and reliability. Our secondary aim was to characterize the symptoms "perceived" by patients with HSP and compare them with those "perceived" by age-matched healthy subjects. METHODS The 12-item HSP-SNAP questionnaire was submitted to 20 external judges for comprehensibility and to 15 external judges for content validity assessment. We recruited 40 subjects with HSP and asked them to fill the questionnaire twice for test-retest procedure. They also completed the Medical Outcome Survey Short Form (SF-36) and were evaluated by the Spastic Paraplegia Rating Scale and the Six-Minute Walk Test. We also recruited 44 healthy subjects who completed the HSP-SNAP once to test score variability. RESULTS The HSP-SNAP content validity index was high (0.8±0.1) and the test-retest analysis showed high reliability (ICC = 0.94). The mean HSP-SNAP score (score range 0-48) of the HSP group was 22.2±7.8, which was significantly lower than healthy subjects (43.1±6.3). The most commonly perceived symptom was stiffness, followed by weakness and imbalance. CONCLUSION Although HSP-SNAP does not investigate non-motor symptoms and we validated only its Italian version, it showed good validity and reliability and it could be used in combination with other objective outcome measures for clinical purposes or as endpoints for future clinical rehabilitation studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT04256681. Registered 3 February 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Diella
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Stefan
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pieve di Soligo, Treviso, Italy
| | - Giulia Girardi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Pieve di Soligo, Treviso, Italy
| | - Roberta Morganti
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | | | - Emilia Biffi
- Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
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Fiori L, Castiglia SF, Chini G, Draicchio F, Sacco F, Serrao M, Tatarelli A, Varrecchia T, Ranavolo A. The Lower Limb Muscle Co-Activation Map during Human Locomotion: From Slow Walking to Running. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:288. [PMID: 38534562 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11030288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) controls movements and regulates joint stiffness with muscle co-activation, but until now, few studies have examined muscle pairs during running. This study aims to investigate differences in lower limb muscle coactivation during gait at different speeds, from walking to running. Nineteen healthy runners walked and ran at speeds ranging from 0.8 km/h to 9.3 km/h. Twelve lower limb muscles' co-activation was calculated using the time-varying multi-muscle co-activation function (TMCf) with global, flexor-extension, and rostro-caudal approaches. Spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters were also measured. We found that TMCf, spatiotemporal, and kinematic parameters were significantly affected by gait speed for all approaches. Significant differences were observed in the main parameters of each co-activation approach and in the spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters at the transition between walking and running. In particular, significant differences were observed in the global co-activation (CIglob, main effect F(1,17) = 641.04, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001), the stride length (main effect F(1,17) = 253.03, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001), the stride frequency (main effect F(1,17) = 714.22, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) and the Center of Mass displacement in the vertical (CoMy, main effect F(1,17) = 426.2, p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) and medial-lateral (CoMz, main effect F(1,17) = 120.29 p < 0.001; at the transition p < 0.001) directions. Regarding the correlation analysis, the CoMy was positively correlated with a higher CIglob (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHMglob, r = -0.83, p < 0.001), whereas the CoMz was positively correlated with the global Center of Activity (CoAglob, r = 0.97, p < 0.001). Positive and negative strong correlations were found between global co-activation parameters and center of mass displacements, as well as some spatiotemporal parameters, regardless of gait speed. Our findings suggest that walking and running have different co-activation patterns and kinematic characteristics, with the whole-limb stiffness exerted more synchronously and stably during running. The co-activation indexes and kinematic parameters could be the result of global co-activation, which is a sensory-control integration process used by the CNS to deal with more demanding and potentially unstable tasks like running.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Fiori
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
- Behavioral Neuroscience PhD Program, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Via Franco Faggiana 1668, 04100 Latina, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Bassi 21, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giorgia Chini
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Draicchio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Sacco
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, Via Franco Faggiana 1668, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Antonella Tatarelli
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Via Fontana Candida 1, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
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Gupta S, Vasudeva A, Gupta G. Impaired Vibratory and Reciprocal Inhibition in Soleus H-Reflex Testing in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Cureus 2024; 16:e55541. [PMID: 38576699 PMCID: PMC10993142 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55541] [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] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental condition that results from an injury to a developing brain. Children with CP fail to execute precise, well-coordinated movements, and excessive muscular co-contraction or co-activation is a prominent attribute of CP. The normal reciprocal relationship between agonists and antagonists during voluntary movements is altered in patients with CP. H-reflex, which is often regarded as the electrical equivalent of the spinal stretch reflex, can be used to examine the overall reflex arc, including the Ia sensory afferent strength and the spinal motoneuron excitability state. Furthermore, neuromodulatory influence of vibration on H-reflex has been found, which has been increasingly investigated to ascertain its potential use as an intervention in patients with increased spinal reflex excitability. Our goal was to identify the brain mechanism underlying the motor deficits by studying Soleus H-reflex changes during voluntary movement (dorsiflexion) and also to determine the role of vibration in H-reflex modulation in children with spastic CP. Methods Soleus H-reflex was recorded in 12 children with spastic CP (10-16 years) and 15 age-matched controls. Recordings were obtained at rest, during dorsiflexion, and during vibratory stimulation for each subject. H-responses (Hmax amplitudes and Hmax-to-Mmax ratio) were compared among the controls and the cases (CP), for the experiments performed, by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The recruitment curves depicting the distribution of mean H-response amplitudes with stimulus intensity increment, for dorsiflexion and vibration were compared among controls and cases by the two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test. p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Hmax amplitudes and the Hmax-to-Mmax ratio increased (15 % and 12.2 % increment, respectively) from the resting values in the children with CP (p<0.05), while controls exhibited a decrease (reduction of 62% and 57 %, respectively) during dorsiflexion (p<0.05). Vibratory stimulation produced a decreasing trend in H-response measures in both the groups. There was about 15 % and 16 % reduction respectively among children with CP while that of 24 % and 21 % respectively among the controls. The differences in the recruitment curves (distribution of average H-response amplitudes with stimulation intensity) recorded during dorsiflexion and vibration experiments among controls compared with those with CP were found to be statistically significant by the two-sample KS test (p<0.0001). Conclusion The failure of H-reflex suppression during voluntary antagonist muscle activation suggests the presence of impaired reciprocal inhibition in spastic CP. The relatively modest H-response reduction caused by vibratory stimulation in children with CP provides limited evidence of vibratory regulation of the H-reflex in CP. More research into the mechanisms driving motor abnormalities in children with CP is needed, which could aid in therapy planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeeta Gupta
- Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, Gorakhpur, IND
| | - Abhimanyu Vasudeva
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, Gorakhpur, IND
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- General Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Gorakhpur, Gorakhpur, IND
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Faccioli S, Cavalagli A, Falocci N, Mangano G, Sanfilippo I, Sassi S. Gait analysis patterns and rehabilitative interventions to improve gait in persons with hereditary spastic paraplegia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1256392. [PMID: 37799279 PMCID: PMC10548139 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1256392] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of inheritance diseases resulting in gait abnormalities, which may be detected using instrumented gait analysis. The aim of this systematic review was 2-fold: to identify specific gait analysis patterns and interventions improving gait in HSP subjects. Methods A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, REHABDATA, and PEDro databases, in accordance with reporting guidelines of PRISMA statement and Cochrane's recommendation. The review protocol was recorded on the PROSPERO register. Patients with pure and complicated HSP of any age were included. All types of studies were included. Risk of bias, quality assessment, and meta-analysis were performed. Results Forty-two studies were included: 19 were related to gait analysis patterns, and 24 were intervention studies. The latter ones were limited to adults. HSP gait patterns were similar to cerebral palsy in younger subjects and stroke in adults. Knee hyperextension, reduced range of motion at knee, ankle, and hip, reduced foot lift, and increased rapid trunk and arm movements were reported. Botulinum injections reduced spasticity but uncovered weakness and improved gait velocity at follow-up. Weak evidence supported intrathecal baclofen, active intensive physical therapy (i.e., robot-assisted gait training, functional exercises, and hydrotherapy), and functional electrical stimulation. Some improvements but adverse events were reported after transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation, and spinal cord stimulation implant. Conclusion Knee hyperextension, non-sagittal pelvic movements, and reduced ROM at the knee, ankle, and hip represent the most peculiar patterns in HSP, compared to diplegic cerebral palsy and stroke. Botulinum improved comfortable gait velocity after 2 months. Nonetheless, interventions reducing spasticity might result in ineffective functional outcomes unveiling weakness. Intensive active physical therapy and FES might improve gait velocity in the very short term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Faccioli
- Children Rehabilitation Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Angela Cavalagli
- Children Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Falocci
- Office of Policy Evaluation and Statistical Studies, Umbria Legislative Assembly, Perugia, Italy
| | - Giulia Mangano
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale 3 (ASP 3), Acireale Hospital, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Sassi
- Children Rehabilitation Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Mohammadyari Gharehbolagh S, Dussault-Picard C, Arvisais D, Dixon PC. Muscle co-contraction and co-activation in cerebral palsy during gait: A scoping review. Gait Posture 2023; 105:6-16. [PMID: 37453339 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebral palsy (CP) results from an injury to a developing brain. Muscle activation patterns during walking are disrupted in individuals with CP. Indeed, excessive muscle co-contraction or co-activation (MCo/MCa) is one of the characteristics of pathological gait. Although some researchers have studied MCo/MCa in individuals with CP during gait, inconsistent results limit our understanding of this literature. Increased knowledge of MCo/MCa patterns in individuals with CP may help the development of improved gait management approaches. RESEARCH QUESTION This review aims to summarize MCo/MCa patterns while walking in individuals with CP across the existing literature and compare them with their healthy peers. METHODS This study follows the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and the recommendations presented in PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for scoping Reviews statement were respected. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (Ebsco), SPORTDiscus with Full Text (Ebsco), and Web of Science. RESULTS Among 2545 identified studies, 21 studies remained after screening. In total, 337 participants with CP and 249 healthy participants were included. Both MCo and MCa terminologies are used for describing simultaneous muscle activation; however, when it is measured by electromyography (EMG), MCa terminology should be preferred to facilitate interpretation. A wide range of MCo/MCa patterns has been found across studies using different methodologies (e.g., gait protocol, computation methods). Finally, most of the included studies confirm that MCo/MCa is increased in individuals with CP during walking compared to controls. SIGNIFICANCE This review identified missing concepts and common limitations in the literature which could be addressed in future research such as the association between MCo/MCa and gait deviations, and the most appropriate MCo/MCa computation method.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mohammadyari Gharehbolagh
- School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Canada; Research Center of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital (CRCHUSJ), Canada.
| | - C Dussault-Picard
- School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Canada; Research Center of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital (CRCHUSJ), Canada
| | - D Arvisais
- Health Sciences Libraries, University of Montreal, Canada
| | - P C Dixon
- School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Canada; Research Center of the Sainte-Justine University Hospital (CRCHUSJ), Canada
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Manto M, Serrao M, Filippo Castiglia S, Timmann D, Tzvi-Minker E, Pan MK, Kuo SH, Ugawa Y. Neurophysiology of cerebellar ataxias and gait disorders. Clin Neurophysiol Pract 2023; 8:143-160. [PMID: 37593693 PMCID: PMC10429746 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There are numerous forms of cerebellar disorders from sporadic to genetic diseases. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the advances and emerging techniques during these last 2 decades in the neurophysiological tests useful in cerebellar patients for clinical and research purposes. Clinically, patients exhibit various combinations of a vestibulocerebellar syndrome, a cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome and a cerebellar motor syndrome which will be discussed throughout this chapter. Cerebellar patients show abnormal Bereitschaftpotentials (BPs) and mismatch negativity. Cerebellar EEG is now being applied in cerebellar disorders to unravel impaired electrophysiological patterns associated within disorders of the cerebellar cortex. Eyeblink conditioning is significantly impaired in cerebellar disorders: the ability to acquire conditioned eyeblink responses is reduced in hereditary ataxias, in cerebellar stroke and after tumor surgery of the cerebellum. Furthermore, impaired eyeblink conditioning is an early marker of cerebellar degenerative disease. General rules of motor control suggest that optimal strategies are needed to execute voluntary movements in the complex environment of daily life. A high degree of adaptability is required for learning procedures underlying motor control as sensorimotor adaptation is essential to perform accurate goal-directed movements. Cerebellar patients show impairments during online visuomotor adaptation tasks. Cerebellum-motor cortex inhibition (CBI) is a neurophysiological biomarker showing an inverse association between cerebellothalamocortical tract integrity and ataxia severity. Ataxic gait is characterized by increased step width, reduced ankle joint range of motion, increased gait variability, lack of intra-limb inter-joint and inter-segmental coordination, impaired foot ground placement and loss of trunk control. Taken together, these techniques provide a neurophysiological framework for a better appraisal of cerebellar disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Manto
- Service des Neurosciences, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
- Service de Neurologie, CHU-Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79 04100, Latina, Italy
- Gait Analysis LAB Policlinico Italia, Via Del Campidano 6 00162, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Polo Pontino, Corso della Repubblica 79 04100, Latina, Italy
- Gait Analysis LAB Policlinico Italia, Via Del Campidano 6 00162, Rome, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, via Bassi, 21, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Elinor Tzvi-Minker
- Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Syte Institute, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ming-Kai Pan
- Cerebellar Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin 64041, Taiwan
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei City 11529, Taiwan
- Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei City 11529, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yoshikazu Ugawa
- Department of Human Neurophysiology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
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Lassmann C, Ilg W, Rattay TW, Schöls L, Giese M, Haeufle DFB. Dysfunctional neuro-muscular mechanisms explain gradual gait changes in prodromal spastic paraplegia. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2023; 20:90. [PMID: 37454121 PMCID: PMC10349428 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01206-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) type 4 (SPG4) a length-dependent axonal degeneration in the cortico-spinal tract leads to progressing symptoms of hyperreflexia, muscle weakness, and spasticity of lower extremities. Even before the manifestation of spastic gait, in the prodromal phase, axonal degeneration leads to subtle gait changes. These gait changes - depicted by digital gait recording - are related to disease severity in prodromal and early-to-moderate manifest SPG4 participants. METHODS We hypothesize that dysfunctional neuro-muscular mechanisms such as hyperreflexia and muscle weakness explain these disease severity-related gait changes of prodromal and early-to-moderate manifest SPG4 participants. We test our hypothesis in computer simulation with a neuro-muscular model of human walking. We introduce neuro-muscular dysfunction by gradually increasing sensory-motor reflex sensitivity based on increased velocity feedback and gradually increasing muscle weakness by reducing maximum isometric force. RESULTS By increasing hyperreflexia of plantarflexor and dorsiflexor muscles, we found gradual muscular and kinematic changes in neuro-musculoskeletal simulations that are comparable to subtle gait changes found in prodromal SPG4 participants. CONCLUSIONS Predicting kinematic changes of prodromal and early-to-moderate manifest SPG4 participants by gradual alterations of sensory-motor reflex sensitivity allows us to link gait as a directly accessible performance marker to emerging neuro-muscular changes for early therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Lassmann
- Multi-level Modeling in Motor Control and Rehabilitation Robotics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Computer Engineering, Wilhelm-Schickard-Institute for Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Winfried Ilg
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tim W. Rattay
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, and Center for Neurology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tuebingen, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases (ZSE), University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, and Center for Neurology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tuebingen, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases (ZSE), University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Martin Giese
- Section Computational Sensomotorics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Daniel F. B. Haeufle
- Multi-level Modeling in Motor Control and Rehabilitation Robotics, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience (CIN), Tuebingen, Germany
- Institute for Modeling and Simulation of Biomechanical Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
- Institute of Computer Engineering (ZITI), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Wang H, Geng Y, Fang P, Li G. Spasticity assessment with muscle coactivation of elbow flexors during passive stretch in Post-stroke Hemiplegia. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023; 2023:1-4. [PMID: 38083311 DOI: 10.1109/embc40787.2023.10340440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
the assessment of muscle properties is an essential prerequisite in the treatment of post-stroke muscle spasticity. Previous studies have shown that muscle coactivation, which reflects the simultaneous activation of agonist and antagonist muscle groups, is associated with muscle spasticity during voluntary contraction. However, current spasticity assessment approaches do not often consider muscle coactivation for passive contraction measured with surface electromyography (sEMG). The purpose here is to evaluate the validity and reliability of muscle co-activation based on sEMG for assessing spasticity of post-stroke patients. This study was conducted on 39 chronic hemiplegia post-stroke patients with varying degrees of elbow flexor spasticity. The severity of spasticity was assessed with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The patients produced elbow flexion passively on affected arm. Two-channel surface sEMG recordings were acquired simultaneously for the biceps and triceps muscles. The effectiveness and reliability of the EMG-based spasticity assessment method were evaluated using Spearman's correlation analysis and intra class correlation coefficients (ICCs). The results showed that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between the level of activity and the coactivation index (R=0.710, P=0.003), while the ICCs for intra trial measures ranged between 0.928 and 0.976. Muscle coactivation is a promising tool for continuously quantifying muscle spasticity in post-stroke patients, suggesting that the EMG-based muscle coactivation index could be useful for assessing motor function.
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10
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Molina-Rueda F, Fernández-Vázquez D, Navarro-López V, López-González R, Carratalá-Tejada M. Muscle Coactivation Index during Walking in People with Multiple Sclerosis with Mild Disability, a Cross-Sectional Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:2169. [PMID: 37443563 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13132169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by axonal degeneration and demyelination. Changes in gait, related to joint kinematics and kinetics, especially at the ankle and knee, have been observed in people with MS (pwMS). Muscle coactivation plays an important role in joint stabilization; however, excessive coactivation may interfere with gait. The aim of this study was to analyze the differences in muscle activation during gait in pwMS compared to healthy individuals. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted involving pwMS and healthy controls. Surface electromyography was used to record muscle activity during gait. The main outcome measures were the coactivation index (CI) and the area under the curve (AUC), which were calculated for several pairs of lower extremity muscles. RESULTS Nine pwMS and nine healthy controls were included. When comparing the MS group to the control group, the AUC was significantly higher in the lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.023) and the CI for the lateral gastrocnemius-anterior tibialis (p = 0.022) and gluteus maximus-lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION Mildly affected pwMS have altered muscle coactivation patterns during gait, especially in the most affected limb. The results highlight the importance of muscle coactivation in pwMS and its possible role in the early detection of gait abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Molina-Rueda
- Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
- Movement Analysis, Biomechanics, Ergonomics, and Motor Control Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Fernández-Vázquez
- Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
- Movement Analysis, Biomechanics, Ergonomics, and Motor Control Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Navarro-López
- Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
- Movement Analysis, Biomechanics, Ergonomics, and Motor Control Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raúl López-González
- Movement Analysis, Biomechanics, Ergonomics, and Motor Control Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Carratalá-Tejada
- Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
- Movement Analysis, Biomechanics, Ergonomics, and Motor Control Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
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Martino G, Beck ON, Ting LH. Voluntary muscle coactivation in quiet standing elicits reciprocal rather than coactive agonist-antagonist control of reactive balance. J Neurophysiol 2023; 129:1378-1388. [PMID: 37162064 PMCID: PMC10259861 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00458.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle coactivation increases in challenging balance conditions as well as with advanced age and mobility impairments. Increased muscle coactivation can occur both in anticipation of (feedforward) and in reaction to (feedback) perturbations, however, the causal relationship between feedforward and feedback muscle coactivation remains elusive. Here, we hypothesized that feedforward muscle coactivation would increase both the body's initial mechanical resistance due to muscle intrinsic properties and the later feedback-mediated muscle coactivation in response to postural perturbations. Young adults voluntarily increased leg muscle coactivation using visual biofeedback before support-surface perturbations. In contrast to our hypothesis, feedforward muscle coactivation did not increase the body's initial intrinsic resistance to perturbations, nor did it increase feedback muscle coactivation. Rather, perturbations with feedforward muscle coactivation elicited a medium- to long-latency increase of feedback-mediated agonist activity but a decrease of feedback-mediated antagonist activity. This reciprocal rather than coactivation effect on ankle agonist and antagonist muscles enabled faster reactive ankle torque generation, reduced ankle dorsiflexion, and reduced center of mass (CoM) motion. We conclude that in young adults, voluntary feedforward muscle coactivation can be independently modulated with respect to feedback-mediated muscle coactivation. Furthermore, our findings suggest feedforward muscle coactivation may be useful for enabling quicker joint torque generation through reciprocal, rather than coactivated, agonist-antagonist feedback muscle activity. As such our results suggest that behavioral context is critical to whether muscle coactivation functions to increase agility versus stability.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Feedforward and feedback muscle coactivation are commonly observed in older and mobility impaired adults and are considered strategies to improve stability by increasing body stiffness prior to and in response to perturbations. In young adults, voluntary feedforward coactivation does not necessarily increase feedback coactivation in response to perturbations. Instead, feedforward coactivation enabled faster ankle torques through reciprocal agonist-antagonist muscle activity. As such, coactivation may promote either agility or stability depending on the behavioral context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Martino
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Owen N Beck
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
| | - Lena H Ting
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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12
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Gill PK, Steele KM, Donelan JM, Schwartz MH. Causal modelling demonstrates metabolic power is largely affected by gait kinematics and motor control in children with cerebral palsy. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285667. [PMID: 37224117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic power (net energy consumed while walking per unit time) is, on average, two-to-three times greater in children with cerebral palsy (CP) than their typically developing peers, contributing to greater physical fatigue, lower levels of physical activity and greater risk of cardiovascular disease. The goal of this study was to identify the causal effects of clinical factors that may contribute to high metabolic power demand in children with CP. We included children who 1) visited Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare for a quantitative gait assessment after the year 2000, 2) were formally diagnosed with CP, 3) were classified as level I-III under the Gross Motor Function Classification System and 4) were 18 years old or younger. We created a structural causal model that specified the assumed relationships of a child's gait pattern (i.e., gait deviation index, GDI) and common impairments (i.e., dynamic and selective motor control, strength, and spasticity) with metabolic power. We estimated causal effects using Bayesian additive regression trees, adjusting for factors identified by the causal model. There were 2157 children who met our criteria. We found that a child's gait pattern, as summarized by the GDI, affected metabolic power approximately twice as much as the next largest contributor. Selective motor control, dynamic motor control, and spasticity had the next largest effects. Among the factors we considered, strength had the smallest effect on metabolic power. Our results suggest that children with CP may benefit more from treatments that improve their gait pattern and motor control than treatments that improve spasticity or strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavreet K Gill
- Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, Locomotion Lab, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Katherine M Steele
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ability and Innovation Lab, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - J Maxwell Donelan
- Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology, Locomotion Lab, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Michael H Schwartz
- Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
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Franzò M, Pica A, Pascucci S, Serrao M, Marinozzi F, Bini F. A Proof of Concept Combined Using Mixed Reality for Personalized Neurorehabilitation of Cerebellar Ataxic Patients. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:1680. [PMID: 36772721 PMCID: PMC9920853 DOI: 10.3390/s23031680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guidelines for degenerative cerebellar ataxia neurorehabilitation suggest intensive coordinative training based on physiotherapeutic exercises. Scientific studies demonstrate virtual exergaming therapeutic value. However, patient-based personalization, post processing analyses and specific audio-visual feedbacks are not provided. This paper presents a wearable motion tracking system with recording and playback features. This system has been specifically designed for ataxic patients, for upper limbs coordination studies with the aim to retrain movement in a neurorehabilitation setting. Suggestions from neurologists and ataxia patients were considered to overcome the shortcomings of virtual systems and implement exergaming. METHODS The system consists of the mixed-reality headset Hololens2 and a proprietary exergaming implemented in Unity. Hololens2 can track and save upper limb parameters, head position and gaze direction in runtime. RESULTS Data collected from a healthy subject are reported to demonstrate features and outputs of the system. CONCLUSIONS Although further improvements and validations are needed, the system meets the needs of a dynamic patient-based exergaming for patients with cerebellar ataxia. Compared with existing solutions, the mixed-reality system is designed to provide an effective and safe therapeutic exergaming that supports both primary and secondary goals of an exergaming: what a patient should do and how patient actions should be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Franzò
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrada Pica
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Pascucci
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
- National Centre for Clinical Excellence, Healthcare Quality and Safety, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Marinozzi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiano Bini
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy
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14
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Latash ML. The control and perception of antagonist muscle action. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:1-12. [PMID: 36309879 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-022-06498-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The review covers a range of topics related to the role of the antagonist muscles in agonist-antagonist pairs within the theory of the neural control of movements with spatial referent coordinates, the principle of abundance, and the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis. It starts with the mechanical role of the antagonist in stopping movements and providing necessary levels of effector mechanical characteristics for fast movements. Further, it discusses the role of antagonist muscle activation bursts during voluntary movements, force production, and postural tasks. Recent studies show that agonist and antagonist motor units are united into common groups related to two basic commands, reciprocal and coactivation. A number of phenomena are considered including intra-muscle synergies stabilizing net force production, unintentional force drifts during isometric force production, effects of voluntary muscle coactivation on force production and perception, and perceptual errors caused by various factors including lack of visual feedback and muscle vibration. Taken together, the findings suggest inherent instability of neural commands (time functions of the stretch reflex threshold) to antagonist muscles requiring visual information for accurate performance. They also suggest that neural commands to antagonist muscles are not readily incorporated into kinesthetic perception leading to illusions and errors in matching tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Latash
- Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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15
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Muscular Response in ALS Patients during Maximal Bilateral Isometric Work of the Biceps Brachii until Fatigue. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12121978. [PMID: 36556343 PMCID: PMC9782988 DOI: 10.3390/life12121978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative and fatal disease, characterized by the loss of motor neurons and progressive musculoskeletal deterioration. The clinical onset is mainly bulbar or spinal. Considering that there is no effective medical treatment, there is a need to understand the muscle activation patterns to design better physical exercise routines. The objective of this study was to determine muscle strength and fatigue in patients with ALS performing a unilateral exercise, and according to sex and type of ALS. A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted with 23 patients. Five maximal unilateral isometric contractions were performed with the right and left biceps brachii. Muscle activation was calculated by surface electromyography bilaterally in the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, rectus femoris anterior, and tibialis anterior. The results showed more accentuated fatigue in men than in women, between the first and last contractions performed and especially on the dominant side (p = 0.016). In addition, there was evidence of a coactivation effect on the muscles around the work joint, which reflects a growing activation of synergists, regardless of sex or type of ALS. These findings support the use of systematic and extensive resistance exercise as a non-invasive option for maintaining the functional capacity of patients with ALS.
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16
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Lessard I, St-Gelais R, Hébert LJ, Côté I, Mathieu J, Brais B, Gagnon C. Functional mobility in walking adult population with ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021; 16:432. [PMID: 34649570 PMCID: PMC8515729 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-02054-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to describe lower limbs impairments, balance and activity limitations related to indoor mobility in adult walkers with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS). RESULTS Twenty-five participants were recruited with a mean age of 32.2 (± 10.4) years with 45.7% using a walking aid. There is a significant difference between participants with and without a walking aid in terms of lower limbs coordination, balance and mobility. Although participants who walk without a walking aid perform better than the others and they are below predictive or reference values. Despite significant mobility limitations, only mild spasticity and passive range of motion limitations were observed. However, there is a significant difference between unaffected individuals and participants with ARSACS for lower limb muscle cocontraction. CONCLUSIONS Results show a high level of lower limb impairments, balance and mobility limitation in adults' participants with ARSACS that are still walking, including people not using a walking aid. One of the most original finding is the presence of excessive cocontraction and a relatively mild level of spasticity in the lower limbs muscles. Results of this study better circumscribes the impairments and activities that should be the focus of intervention including rehabilitation in ARSACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Lessard
- Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les maladies neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, site Jonquière, 2230 de l'Hôpital, C.P. 1200, Jonquière, QC, G7X 7X2, Canada
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Raphaël St-Gelais
- Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les maladies neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, site Jonquière, 2230 de l'Hôpital, C.P. 1200, Jonquière, QC, G7X 7X2, Canada
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Luc J Hébert
- Départements de réadaptation et de Radiologie et médecine nucléaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (CIRRIS), Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Côté
- Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les maladies neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, site Jonquière, 2230 de l'Hôpital, C.P. 1200, Jonquière, QC, G7X 7X2, Canada
| | - Jean Mathieu
- Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les maladies neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, site Jonquière, 2230 de l'Hôpital, C.P. 1200, Jonquière, QC, G7X 7X2, Canada
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Bernard Brais
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cynthia Gagnon
- Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les maladies neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, site Jonquière, 2230 de l'Hôpital, C.P. 1200, Jonquière, QC, G7X 7X2, Canada.
- Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
- Centre de recherche Charles-Le Moyne-Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean sur les innovations en santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
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Bejer A, Bieś A, Kyc S, Lorenc M, Mataczyński P, Domka-Jopek E, Melloh M, Gabel CP. Polish Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the Lower Limb Functional Index (LLFI) Demonstrates a Valid Outcome Measure for the Lower Limb Region and Joints. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:9894. [PMID: 34574817 PMCID: PMC8468158 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to perform linguistic and cross-cultural adaptation to establish a Polish version of the Lower Limb Functional Index (LLFI) as well as an evaluation of the psychometric properties. This was a two-stage, cross-sectional study. The first stage-linguistic and cultural adaptation, complied with the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research guidelines to produce the Lower Limb Functional Index, Polish version (LLFI-PL). The subjects were recruited to the second stage of the study from a sample of convenience (n = 125, age x- = 52.86 ± 19.53 years, 56% female, symptoms duration x- = 17.69 ± 18.39 weeks). Baseline reliability was performed on the LLFI-PL with retest period at 3-7 days. The Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), EuroQol Health Questionnaire 5-Dimensions 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), and an 11-point Pain Numerical Rating Scale (P-NRS) were completed to assess the validity of the LLFI-PL. Statistical analysis showed high internal consistency (α = 0.94), and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC2.1 = 0.96). The measurement error was SEM = 1.69% with MDC90 = 3.93%. Construct validity demonstrated strong correlations between the LLFI-PL and WOMAC (r = 0.81) and moderate correlations with the EQ-5D-5L (r = -0.63) and P-NRS (r = -0.39). Exploratory factor analysis confirmed a single-factor structure. The LLFI-PL is a psychometrically sound questionnaire for Polish-speaking patients with lower limb musculoskeletal conditions. The results support findings from the previous original English, Spanish, and Turkish versions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Bejer
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (S.K.); (M.L.); (P.M.); (E.D.-J.)
- The Holy Family Specialist Hospital, Rudna Mała, 36-060 Głogów Małopolski, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Bieś
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (S.K.); (M.L.); (P.M.); (E.D.-J.)
| | - Sylwia Kyc
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (S.K.); (M.L.); (P.M.); (E.D.-J.)
| | - Magdalena Lorenc
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (S.K.); (M.L.); (P.M.); (E.D.-J.)
| | - Piotr Mataczyński
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (S.K.); (M.L.); (P.M.); (E.D.-J.)
| | - Elżbieta Domka-Jopek
- Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszow University, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland; (A.B.); (S.K.); (M.L.); (P.M.); (E.D.-J.)
| | - Markus Melloh
- Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand;
- School of Health Professions, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, 8401 Winterthur, Switzerland
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- UWA Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
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Rácz K, Kiss RM. Marker displacement data filtering in gait analysis: A technical note. Biomed Signal Process Control 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2021.102974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Impairment of Global Lower Limb Muscle Coactivation During Walking in Cerebellar Ataxias. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 19:583-596. [PMID: 32410093 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the time-varying multi-muscle coactivation function (TMCf) in the lower limbs during gait and its relationship with the biomechanical and clinical features of patients with cerebellar ataxia. A total of 23 patients with degenerative cerebellar ataxia (16 with spinocerebellar ataxia, 7 with adult-onset ataxia of unknown etiology) and 23 age-, sex-, and speed-matched controls were investigated. The disease severity was assessed using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) in all patients. During walking, simultaneous acquisition of kinematic, kinetic, and electromyography data was performed using a motion analysis system. The coactivation was processed throughout the gait cycle using the TMCf, and the following parameters were measured: synthetic coactivation index, full width at half maximum, and center of activity. Spatiotemporal (walking speed, stance duration, swing duration, first and second double-support durations, step length, step width, stride length, Center of Mass displacement), kinetic (vertical component of GRFs), and energy consumption (total energy consumption and mechanical energy recovered) parameters were also measured. The coactivation variables were compared between patients and controls and were correlated with both clinical and gait variables. A significantly increased global TMCf was found in patients compared with controls. In addition, the patients showed a significant shift of the center of activity toward the initial contact and a significant reduction in energy recovery. All coactivation parameters were negatively correlated with gait speed, whereas the coactivation index and center of activity were positively correlated with both center-of-mass mediolateral displacement values and SARA scores. Our findings suggest that patients use global coactivation as a compensatory mechanism during the earliest and most challenging subphase (loading response) of the gait cycle to reduce the lateral body sway, thus improving gait stability at the expense of effective energy recovery. This information could be helpful in optimizing rehabilitative treatment aimed at improving lower limb muscle control during gait in patients with cerebella ataxia.
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Ability of a Set of Trunk Inertial Indexes of Gait to Identify Gait Instability and Recurrent Fallers in Parkinson's Disease. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21103449. [PMID: 34063468 PMCID: PMC8156709 DOI: 10.3390/s21103449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to assess the ability of 16 gait indices to identify gait instability and recurrent fallers in persons with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD), regardless of age and gait speed, and to investigate their correlation with clinical and kinematic variables. The trunk acceleration patterns were acquired during the gait of 55 pwPD and 55 age-and-speed matched healthy subjects using an inertial measurement unit. We calculated the harmonic ratios (HR), percent recurrence, and percent determinism (RQAdet), coefficient of variation, normalized jerk score, and the largest Lyapunov exponent for each participant. A value of ≤1.50 for the HR in the antero-posterior direction discriminated between pwPD at Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage 3 and healthy subjects with a 67% probability, between pwPD at HY 3 and pwPD at lower HY stages with a 73% probability, and it characterized recurrent fallers with a 77% probability. Additionally, HR in the antero-posterior direction was correlated with pelvic obliquity and rotation. RQAdet in the antero-posterior direction discriminated between pwPD and healthy subjects with 67% probability, regardless of the HY stage, and was correlated with stride duration and cadence. Therefore, HR and RQAdet in the antero-posterior direction can both be used as age- and-speed-independent markers of gait instability.
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Lallemant-Dudek P, Darios F, Durr A. Recent advances in understanding hereditary spastic paraplegias and emerging therapies. Fac Rev 2021; 10:27. [PMID: 33817696 PMCID: PMC8009193 DOI: 10.12703/r/10-27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of rare, inherited, neurological diseases characterized by broad clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Lower-limb spasticity with first motoneuron involvement is the core symptom of all HSPs. As spasticity is a syndrome and not a disease, it develops on top of other neurological signs (ataxia, dystonia, and parkinsonism). Indeed, the definition of genes responsible for HSPs goes beyond the 79 identified SPG genes. In order to avoid making a catalog of the different genes involved in HSP in any way, we have chosen to focus on the HSP with cerebellar ataxias since this is a frequent association described for several genes. This overlap leads to an intermediary group of spastic ataxias which is actively genetically and clinically studied. The most striking example is SPG7, which is responsible for HSP or cerebellar ataxia or both. There are no specific therapies against HSPs, and there is a dearth of randomized trials in patients with HSP, especially on spasticity when it likely results from other mechanisms. Thus far, no gene-specific therapy has been developed for HSP, but emerging therapies in animal models and neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells are potential treatments for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Lallemant-Dudek
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Frederic Darios
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Genetic Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
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Abstract
Physical approach to biological movement is based on the idea of control with referent spatial coordinates for effectors, from the whole body to single muscles. Within this framework, neural control signals induce changes in parameters of corresponding biology-specific laws of nature, and motor performance emerges as a result of interaction with the external force field. This approach is naturally compatible with the principle of abundance and the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis, which offer the framework for analysis of movement stability. The presence of two basic commands, reciprocal and co-activation, makes even single-effector tasks abundant and allows stabilizing their performance at the control level. Kinesthetic perception can be viewed as the process of estimating afferent signals within a reference system provided by the efferent process. Percepts are reflections of stable iso-perceptual manifolds in the combined afferent-efferent multi-dimensional space. This approach offers new, logical and based on laws of nature, interpretations for such phenomena as muscle co-activation, unintentional drifts in performance, and vibration-induced kinesthetic illusions. It also allows predicting new phenomena such as counter-intuitive effects of muscle co-activation of force production and perception, vibration-induced force illusions, performance drifts at two different speeds, and high variability in matching the contribution of individual elements in multi-element tasks. This approach can be developed for various subfields of movement studies including studies of athletics, movement disorders, and movement rehabilitation.
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Varrecchia T, Castiglia SF, Ranavolo A, Conte C, Tatarelli A, Coppola G, Di Lorenzo C, Draicchio F, Pierelli F, Serrao M. An artificial neural network approach to detect presence and severity of Parkinson's disease via gait parameters. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0244396. [PMID: 33606730 PMCID: PMC7894951 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Gait deficits are debilitating in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD), which inevitably deteriorate over time. Gait analysis is a valuable method to assess disease-specific gait patterns and their relationship with the clinical features and progression of the disease. Objectives Our study aimed to i) develop an automated diagnostic algorithm based on machine-learning techniques (artificial neural networks [ANNs]) to classify the gait deficits of PwPD according to disease progression in the Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) staging system, and ii) identify a minimum set of gait classifiers. Methods We evaluated 76 PwPD (H-Y stage 1–4) and 67 healthy controls (HCs) by computerized gait analysis. We computed the time-distance parameters and the ranges of angular motion (RoMs) of the hip, knee, ankle, trunk, and pelvis. Principal component analysis was used to define a subset of features including all gait variables. An ANN approach was used to identify gait deficits according to the H-Y stage. Results We identified a combination of a small number of features that distinguished PwPDs from HCs (one combination of two features: knee and trunk rotation RoMs) and identified the gait patterns between different H-Y stages (two combinations of four features: walking speed and hip, knee, and ankle RoMs; walking speed and hip, knee, and trunk rotation RoMs). Conclusion The ANN approach enabled automated diagnosis of gait deficits in several symptomatic stages of Parkinson’s disease. These results will inspire future studies to test the utility of gait classifiers for the evaluation of treatments that could modify disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone Rome, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Stefano Filippo Castiglia
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Tatarelli
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Coppola
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy
| | - Cherubino Di Lorenzo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy
| | - Francesco Draicchio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Pierelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy
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Ranavolo A, Serrao M, Draicchio F. Critical Issues and Imminent Challenges in the Use of sEMG in Return-To-Work Rehabilitation of Patients Affected by Neurological Disorders in the Epoch of Human-Robot Collaborative Technologies. Front Neurol 2020; 11:572069. [PMID: 33414754 PMCID: PMC7783040 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.572069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients affected by neurological pathologies with motor disorders when they are of working age have to cope with problems related to employability, difficulties in working, and premature work interruption. It has been demonstrated that suitable job accommodation plans play a beneficial role in the overall quality of life of pathological subjects. A well-designed return-to-work program should consider several recent innovations in the clinical and ergonomic fields. One of the instrument-based methods used to monitor the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions is surface electromyography (sEMG), a multi-channel, non-invasive, wireless, wearable tool, which allows in-depth analysis of motor coordination mechanisms. Although the scientific literature in this field is extensive, its use remains significantly underexploited and the state-of-the-art technology lags expectations. This is mainly attributable to technical and methodological (electrode-skin impedance, noise, electrode location, size, configuration and distance, presence of crosstalk signals, comfort issues, selection of appropriate sensor setup, sEMG amplitude normalization, definition of correct sEMG-related outcomes and normative data) and cultural limitations. The technical and methodological problems are being resolved or minimized also thanks to the possibility of using reference books and tutorials. Cultural limitations are identified in the traditional use of qualitative approaches at the expense of quantitative measurement-based monitoring methods to design and assess ergonomic interventions and train operators. To bridge the gap between the return-to-work rehabilitation and other disciplines, several teaching courses, accompanied by further electrodes and instrumentations development, should be designed at all Bachelor, Master and PhD of Science levels to enhance the best skills available among physiotherapists, occupational health and safety technicians and ergonomists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Movement Analysis LAB, Policlinico Italia, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Draicchio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Rome, Italy
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Lallemant-Dudek P, Durr A. Clinical and genetic update of hereditary spastic paraparesis. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2020; 177:550-556. [PMID: 32807405 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraparesis is a group of inherited neurological diseases characterized by underlying wide genetic heterogeneity. It should be suspected if there is a positive familial history, a common genetic alteration (i.e. SPG4, the most overall frequent form), or association with other signs, such as cerebellar ataxia (i.e. SPG7), early cognitive impairment or even cognitive deficit (i.e. SPG11), or peripheral neuropathy (i.e. SACS). The natural history is known for certain genetic subgroups, with genotype-phenotype correlations partially explaining childhood or late onset. However, the search for genetic modifying factors, in addition to the causal pathogenic variant or environmental influencers, is still needed. Novel approaches to provide etiological treatment are in the pipeline for SPG11. Symptomatic treatments are available but would benefit from randomized controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Lallemant-Dudek
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| | - A Durr
- Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Genetics Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, France
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Progression of muscular co-activation and gait variability in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A 2-year follow-up study. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2020; 78:105101. [PMID: 32652381 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2020.105101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an X-linked muscle disease caused by dystrophin absence. Muscle weakness is a major determinant of the gait impairments in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and it affects lower limbs more often than upper limbs. Monitoring progression of motor symptoms is key to plan treatments for prolonging ambulation. METHODS The progression of gait impairment in a group of ten patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy was observed longitudinally three times over a period of 2 years by computerized gait analysis system. Spatio-temporal parameters of gait, and variability indicators were extracted from kinematics, while lower limb muscles coactivation were measured at the baseline and at each follow-up evaluation. The 6-min walk test was used to evaluate functional capacity at each time session. FINDINGS We found a significant increase in stride width and in both stride width and stride length variability at the 1-and 2-year follow-up evaluations. Furthermore, significant higher values in proximal muscle coactivation and significant lower values in both distal muscle coactivation and functional capacity were found at the 2-year follow-up evaluation. Significant negative correlations between muscle coactivation at proximal level and functional capacity and between muscle coactivation at distal level and gait variability were observed. INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest that patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy exhibit decline in functional capacity after 2 years from the baseline. Moreover, to cope with disease progression, patients try to maintain an effective gait by changing the balance dynamic strategies (i.e. increase in proximal muscle coactivation) during the course of disease.
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27
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Tatarelli A, Serrao M, Varrecchia T, Fiori L, Draicchio F, Silvetti A, Conforto S, De Marchis C, Ranavolo A. Global Muscle Coactivation of the Sound Limb in Gait of People with Transfemoral and Transtibial Amputation. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20092543. [PMID: 32365715 PMCID: PMC7249183 DOI: 10.3390/s20092543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the level of amputation and various prosthetic devices on the muscle activation of the sound limb in people with unilateral transfemoral and transtibial amputation. We calculated the global coactivation of 12 muscles using the time-varying multimuscle coactivation function method in 37 subjects with unilateral transfemoral amputation (10, 16, and 11 with mechanical, electronic, and bionic prostheses, respectively), 11 subjects with transtibial amputation, and 22 healthy subjects representing the control group. The results highlighted that people with amputation had a global coactivation temporal profile similar to that of healthy subjects. However, amputation increased the level of the simultaneous activation of many muscles during the loading response and push-off phases of the gait cycle and decreased it in the midstance and swing subphases. This increased coactivation probably plays a role in prosthetic gait asymmetry and energy consumption. Furthermore, people with amputation and wearing electronic prosthesis showed lower global coactivation when compared with people wearing mechanical and bionic prostheses. These findings suggest that the global lower limb coactivation behavior can be a useful tool to analyze the motor control strategies adopted and the ability to adapt to the prosthetic device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Tatarelli
- Department of Human Neurosciences, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.S.); (A.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, 04100 Latina, Italy;
| | - Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Lorenzo Fiori
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Draicchio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Alessio Silvetti
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Silvia Conforto
- Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (C.D.M.)
| | - Cristiano De Marchis
- Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (C.D.M.)
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00185 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.S.); (A.R.)
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Yamagata M, Gruben K, Falaki A, Ochs WL, Latash ML. Biomechanics of Vertical Posture and Control with Referent Joint Configurations. J Mot Behav 2020; 53:72-82. [PMID: 32041492 DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2020.1723483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Our study compared the results of two methods of analysis of postural sway during human quiet standing, the rambling-trembling (Rm-Tr) decomposition and the analysis of the point of intersection of the ground reaction forces (zIP analysis). Young, healthy subjects were required to stand naturally and with an increased level of leg/trunk muscle co-activation under visual feedback on the magnitude of a combined index of muscle activation (muscle mode). The main findings included the shift of zIP toward higher frequencies and strong correlations between Tr and zIP when the subjects stood with increased muscle co-activation. We interpret the results within the idea of whole-body control with a set of primitives associated with referent coordinates in the joint configuration space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momoko Yamagata
- Department of Human Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kreg Gruben
- Departments of Kinesiology, Biomedical Engineering, & Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ali Falaki
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Wendy L Ochs
- Departments of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mark L Latash
- Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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29
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Rinaldi M, Petrarca M, Romano A, Vasco G, D'Anna C, Schmid M, Castelli E, Conforto S. EMG-based Indicators of Muscular Co-Activation during Gait in Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2019:3845-3848. [PMID: 31946712 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2019.8856892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Muscular weakness is one of the main signs associated with the onset and progression of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. During motor functions, this disease also determines deviations in muscular activity, especially in terms of coordination and activation between muscles acting on the same joints. In this study, surface EMG activity of the lower limb muscles of 10 children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at different times from disease onset were recorded along with kinematics during unconstrained gait. Muscular co-activation of muscle pairs was then evaluated by extracting different co-activation indicators, and linking them with kinematic markers of motor function. The combination of disease progression and pharmacological treatment resulted in a significant decrease in terms of co-activation indexes for two pairs of agonist-antagonist muscles, and for one of these two pairs the decrease in co-activation was correlated with a decrease in the motor function of gait.
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Martindale CF, Roth N, Gasner H, Jensen D, Kohl Z, Eskofier BM. Mobile Gait Analysis using Personalised Hidden Markov Models for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia Patients. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019; 2018:5430-5433. [PMID: 30441565 DOI: 10.1109/embc.2018.8513508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Gait analysis provides a quantitative method to assess disease progression or intervention effect on gait disorders. While mobile gait analysis enables continuous monitoring in free living conditions, state of the art gait analysis for diseases such as hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is currently limited to motion capture systems which are large and expensive. The challenge with HSP is its heterogeneous nature and rarity, leading to a wide range of ages, severity and gait patterns as well as small patient numbers. We propose a sensor-based mobile solution, based on a personalised hierarchical hidden Markov Model (hHMM) to extract spatio-temporal gait parameters. This personalised hHMM achieves a mean absolute error of 0.04 s ± 0.03 s for stride time estimation with respect to a GAITRite® reference system. We use the successful extraction of initial ground contact to explore the limits of the double integration method for such heterogeneous diseases. While our personalised model compensates for the heterogeneity of the disease, it would require a new model per patient. We observed that the general model was sufficient for some of the less severely affected patients.
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Roche N, Bonnyaud C, Reynaud V, Bensmail D, Pradon D, Esquenazi A. Motion analysis for the evaluation of muscle overactivity: A point of view. Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2019; 62:442-452. [PMID: 31276837 DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Muscle overactivity is a general term for pathological increases in muscle activity such as spasticity. It is caused by damage to the central nervous system at the cortical, subcortical or spinal levels, leading to an upper motor neuron syndrome. In routine clinical practice, muscle overactivity, which induces abnormal muscle tone, is usually evaluated by using the Modified Ashworth Scale or the Tardieu Scale. However, both of these scales involve testing in passive conditions that do not always reflect muscle activity during dynamic tasks such as gait or reaching. To determine appropriate treatment strategies, muscle overactivity should be evaluated by using objective measures in dynamic conditions. Instrumental motion analysis systems that include 3-D motion analysis and electromyography are very useful for this purpose. The method can be used to identify patterns of abnormal muscle activity that can be related to abnormal kinematic patterns. It allows for objective and accurate assessment of the effects of treatments to reduce muscle overactivity on the movement to be improved. The aim of this point-of-view article is to describe the utility of instrumental motion analysis and to outline both its numerous advantages in evaluating muscle overactivity and to present the current limitations for its use (e.g., cost, the need for an engineer, errors relating to marker placement and cross talk between electromyography sensors).
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Affiliation(s)
- N Roche
- U1179, service de physiologie et d'explorations fonctionnelles, Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France.
| | - C Bonnyaud
- U1179, service de physiologie et d'explorations fonctionnelles, Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France
| | - V Reynaud
- U1179, service de physiologie et d'explorations fonctionnelles, Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France
| | - D Bensmail
- U1179, service de physiologie et d'explorations fonctionnelles, Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France
| | - D Pradon
- U1179, service de physiologie et d'explorations fonctionnelles, Assistance publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Raymond Poincaré Hospital, Garches, France
| | - A Esquenazi
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MossRehab, Elkins Park, PA, USA
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Martino G, Ivanenko Y, Serrao M, Ranavolo A, Draicchio F, Casali C, Lacquaniti F. Locomotor coordination in patients with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2019; 45:61-69. [PMID: 30836301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Locomotion is a complex behaviour that requires the coordination of multiple body segments and muscle groups. Here we investigated how the weakness and spasticity in individuals with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP) affect the coordination patterns of the lower limbs. We analysed kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) activity from 12 leg muscles in 21 persons with HSP and 20 control subjects at matched walking speeds. To assess the locomotor coordination, we examined the covariation between thigh, shank and foot elevation angles by means of principal component analysis and the modular organization of EMG patterns using the non-negative matrix factorization algorithm. The characteristic features of the HSP gait consisted in changes of the elevation angles covariation, the shape of the gait loop, reduced range of motion of the distal segments and significantly lower foot lift. The EMG factorization analysis revealed a comparable structure of the motor output between HSP and control groups, but significantly wider basic temporal patterns associated with muscles innervated from the sacral spinal segments in HSP. Overall, the applied methodology highlighted the impact of the corticospinal degeneration and spasticity on the coordination of distal limb segments and basic muscle modules associated with distal spinal segments.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Martino
- Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy.
| | - Y Ivanenko
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - M Serrao
- Rehabilitation Centre Policlinico Italia, 00162 Rome, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - A Ranavolo
- INAIL, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - F Draicchio
- INAIL, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - C Casali
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - F Lacquaniti
- Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, 00179 Rome, Italy; Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
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Rinaldi M, D'Anna C, Schmid M, Conforto S. Assessing the influence of SNR and pre-processing filter bandwidth on the extraction of different muscle co-activation indexes from surface EMG data. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2018; 43:184-192. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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34
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Varrecchia T, Rinaldi M, Serrao M, Draicchio F, Conte C, Conforto S, Schmid M, Ranavolo A. Global lower limb muscle coactivation during walking at different speeds: Relationship between spatio-temporal, kinematic, kinetic, and energetic parameters. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2018; 43:148-157. [PMID: 30292137 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle coactivation is the mechanism that regulates the simultaneous activity of antagonist muscles around the same joint. During walking, muscle joint coactivation varies within the gait cycle according to the functional role of the lower limb joints. In the present study, we used a time-varying multi-muscle coactivation function (TMCf) with the aim of investigating the coactivation of 12 lower limb muscles and its relationship with the gait cycle, gait speed (low, self-selected, and fast), ground reaction force, gait variability, and mechanical energy consumption, and recovery in a sample of 20 healthy subjects. Results show that the TMCf is speed dependent and highly repeatable within and between subjects, similar to the vertical force profile, and negatively correlated with energy recovery and positively correlated with both energy consumption and balance-related gait parameters. These findings suggest that the global lower limb coactivation behavior could be a useful measure of the motor control strategy, limb stiffness, postural stability, energy efficiency optimization, and several aspects in pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Varrecchia
- Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, Rome, Italy
| | - M Rinaldi
- Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, Rome, Italy
| | - M Serrao
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy; Rehabilitation Centre, Policlinico Italia, Rome, Italy
| | - F Draicchio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - C Conte
- Fondazione Don Gnocchi, Milan, Italy
| | - S Conforto
- Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, Rome, Italy
| | - M Schmid
- Department of Engineering, Roma TRE University, Rome, Italy
| | - A Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
The phenomenon of agonist-antagonist muscle coactivation is discussed with respect to its consequences for movement mechanics (such as increasing joint apparent stiffness, facilitating faster movements, and effects on action stability), implication for movement optimization, and involvement of different neurophysiological structures. Effects of coactivation on movement stability are ambiguous and depend on the effector representing a kinematic chain with a fixed origin or free origin. Furthermore, coactivation is discussed within the framework of the equilibrium-point hypothesis and the idea of hierarchical control with spatial referent coordinates. Relations of muscle coactivation to changes in one of the basic commands, the c-command, are discussed and illustrated. A hypothesis is suggested that agonist-antagonist coactivation reflects a deliberate neural control strategy to preserve effector-level control and avoid making it degenerate and facing the necessity to control at the level of signals to individual muscles. This strategy, in particular, allows stabilizing motor actions by covaried adjustments in spaces of control variables. This hypothesis is able to account for higher levels of coactivation in young healthy persons performing challenging tasks and across various populations with movement impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Latash
- Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University , University Park, Pennsylvania
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