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Popp WL, Richner L, Lambercy O, Shirota C, Barry A, Gassert R, Kamper DG. Effects of wrist posture and stabilization on precision grip force production and muscle activation patterns. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:596-607. [PMID: 37529845 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00420.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Most of the power for generating forces in the fingers arises from muscles located in the forearm. This configuration maximizes finger joint range of motion while minimizing finger mass and inertia. The resulting multiarticular arrangement of the tendons, however, complicates independent control of the wrist and the digits. Actuating the wrist impacts sensorimotor control of the fingers and vice versa. The goal of this study was to systematically investigate interactions between isometric wrist and digit control. Specifically, we examined how the need to maintain a specified wrist posture influences precision grip. Fifteen healthy adults produced maximum precision grip force at 11 different wrist flexion/extension angles, with the arm supported, under two conditions: 1) the participant maintained the desired wrist angle while performing the precision grip and 2) a robot maintained the specified wrist angle. Wrist flexion/extension posture significantly impacted maximum precision grip force (P < 0.001), with the greatest grip force achieved when the wrist was extended 30° from neutral. External wrist stabilization by the robot led to a 20% increase in precision grip force across wrist postures. Increased force was accompanied by increased muscle activation but with an activation pattern similar to the one used when the participant had to stabilize their wrist. Thus, simultaneous wrist and finger requirements impacted performance of an isometric finger task. External wrist stabilization can promote increased precision grip force resulting from increased muscle activation. These findings have potential clinical significance for individuals with neurologically driven finger weakness, such as stroke survivors.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We explored the interdependence between wrist and fingers by assessing the influence of wrist posture and external stabilization on precision grip force generation. We found that maximum precision grip force occurred at an extended wrist posture and was 20% greater when the wrist was Externally Stabilized. The latter resulted from amplification of muscle activation patterns from the Self-Stabilized condition rather than adoption of new patterns exploiting external wrist stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner L Popp
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lea Richner
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Lambercy
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Camila Shirota
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Roger Gassert
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
| | - Derek G Kamper
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
- Closed-Loop Engineering for Advanced Rehabilitation Research Core, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill/North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
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Kurumadani H, Ueda A, Date S, Ishii Y, Goto N, Nakashima Y, Sunagawa T. Measurement of the lumbrical muscle activity of the hand using electromyography supported by the ultrasound imaging technique with string navigation. J Biomech 2023; 158:111748. [PMID: 37633216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Although placing surface electrodes on small muscles by palpation is difficult, ultrasound guidance may enable electrode placement on the small muscles. This study aimed to examine whether ultrasound guidance is helpful for placement of electrodes on a small muscle, such as the hand lumbrical muscle. Twelve dominant hands of 12 healthy right-handed adults were included in this study. The first lumbrical muscle belly of the hands was identified using ultrasound guidance with a string navigation technique for placing surface electrodes. This technique was designed to identify the location of the center of the muscle belly under ultrasound imaging using a string. After the electrodes were placed on the muscle belly using this technique, the surface electromyographic signals of the first lumbrical, first dorsal interosseous, and adductor pollicis muscles were recorded. The activity of the lumbrical muscle could be separately measured of the first dorsal interosseous and adductor pollicis muscles. This technique has the potential to enable surface electromyography of small muscles for which placement of surface electrodes by palpation is challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kurumadani
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Analysis & Control of Upper Extremity Function, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
| | - Akio Ueda
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Analysis & Control of Upper Extremity Function, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Shota Date
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Analysis & Control of Upper Extremity Function, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Yosuke Ishii
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Laboratory of Biomechanics, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Naoya Goto
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Analysis & Control of Upper Extremity Function, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; Hiroshima University Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Yuko Nakashima
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Medicine, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Toru Sunagawa
- Hiroshima University, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Analysis & Control of Upper Extremity Function, 1-2-3, Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
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Geelen JE, van der Helm FCT, Schouten AC, Mugge W. Sensory weighting of position and force feedback during pinching. Exp Brain Res 2023:10.1007/s00221-023-06654-1. [PMID: 37382669 PMCID: PMC10386968 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06654-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Human hands are complex biomechanical systems that allow for dexterous tasks with many degrees of freedom. Coordination of the fingers is essential for many activities of daily living and involves integrating sensory signals. During this sensory integration, the central nervous system deals with the uncertainty of sensory signals. When handling compliant objects, force and position are related. Interactions with stiff objects result in reduced position changes and increased force changes compared to compliant objects. Literature has shown sensory integration of force and position at the shoulder. Nevertheless, differences in sensory requirements between proximal and distal joints may lead to different proprioceptive representations, hence findings at proximal joints cannot be directly transferred to distal joints, such as the digits. Here, we investigate the sensory integration of force and position during pinching. A haptic manipulator rendered a virtual spring with adjustable stiffness between the index finger and the thumb. Participants had to blindly reproduce a force against the spring. In both visual reference trials and blind reproduction trials, the relation between pinch force and spring compression was constant. However, by covertly changing the spring characteristics in catch trials into an adjusted force-position relation, the participants' weighting of force and position could be revealed. In agreement with previous studies on the shoulder, participants relied more on force sense in trials with higher stiffness. This study demonstrated stiffness-dependent sensory integration of force and position feedback during pinching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinne E Geelen
- BioMechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands.
| | - Frans C T van der Helm
- BioMechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| | - Alfred C Schouten
- BioMechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
| | - Winfred Mugge
- BioMechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, Delft, 2628 CD, The Netherlands
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Kunugi S, Hirono T, Yoshimura A, Holobar A, Watanabe K. Association between force fluctuation during isometric ankle abduction and variability of neural drive in peroneus muscles. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2023; 70:102780. [PMID: 37126978 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102780] [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: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Analyzing motor unit (MU) activities of peroneus muscles may reveal the causes of force control deficits of ankle eversion. This study aimed to examine peroneus muscles' MU discharge characteristics and associations between force fluctuation and variability of the neural drive in healthy participants. Thirty-one healthy males participated in this study. MU activities were identified from high-density surface electromyography of peroneus muscles during ankle eversion at 15 and 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Participants increased the contraction level until reaching the target and held it for 15 s. The central 10 s of the hold phase were used for analysis. A cumulative spike train (CST) was calculated using MU firings. Variabilities of the force and CST are represented by the coefficient of variation (CoV). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between CoV of force and CoV of CST. For 15 and 30 % MVC trials, CoV of force was 1.86 ± 1.59 and 1.57 ± 1.26%, and CoV of CST was 5.01 ± 3.24 and 4.51 ± 2.78%, respectively. The correlation was significant at 15% (rho = 0.27, p < 0.001) and 30% (rho = 0.32, p < 0.001) MVC. Our findings suggest that in peroneus muscles, force fluctuation weakly to moderately correlates with neural drive variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Kunugi
- Center for General Education, Aichi Institute of Technology, 1247 Yachigusa, Yakusa-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi 470-0392, Japan; Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi 470-0393, Japan.
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi 470-0393, Japan
| | - Akane Yoshimura
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi 470-0393, Japan
| | - Aleš Holobar
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 46, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi 470-0393, Japan
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Inhibitory Control of Adjacent Finger Movements while Performing a Modified Version of the Halstead Finger Tapping Test: Effects of Age, Education and Sex. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2021; 27:813-824. [PMID: 33190661 DOI: 10.1017/s1355617720001101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Selective motor inhibition is known to decline with age. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of failures at inhibitory control of adjacent finger movements while performing a repetitive finger tapping task in young, middle-aged and older adults. Potential education and sex effects were also evaluated. METHODS Kinematic recordings of adjacent finger movements were obtained on 107 healthy adults (ages 20-80) while they performed a modified version of the Halstead Finger Tapping Test (HTFF). Study participants were instructed to inhibit all finger movements while tapping with the index finger. RESULTS Inability to inhibit adjacent finger movements while performing the task was infrequent in young adults (2.9% of individuals between 20 and 39 years of age) but increased with age (23.3% between the ages of 40 and 59; 31.0% between ages 60 and 80). Females and males did not differ in their inability to inhibit adjacent finger movements, but individuals with a college education showed a lower frequency of failure to inhibit adjacent finger movements (10.3%) compared to those with a high school education (28.6%). These findings were statistically significant only for the dominant hand. CONCLUSION Selective motor inhibition failures are most common in the dominant hand and occur primarily in older healthy adults while performing the modified version of the HFTT. Monitoring selective motor inhibition failures may have diagnostic significance.
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Stachaczyk M, Atashzar SF, Farina D. Adaptive Spatial Filtering of High-Density EMG for Reducing the Influence of Noise and Artefacts in Myoelectric Control. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2020; 28:1511-1517. [PMID: 32406842 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2020.2986099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Electromyography (EMG) is a source of neural information for controlling neuroprosthetic devices. To enhance the information content of conventional bipolar EMG, high-density EMG systems include tens to hundreds of closely spaced electrodes that non-invasively record the electrical activity of muscles with high spatial resolution. Despite the advantages of relying on multiple signal sources, however, variations in electrode-skin contact impedance and noise remain challenging for multichannel myocontrol systems. These spatial and temporal non-stationarities negatively impact the control accuracy and therefore substantially limit the clinical viability of high-density EMG techniques. Here, we propose an adaptive algorithm for automatic artefact/noise detection and attenuation for high-density EMG control. The method infers the presence of noise in each EMG channel by spectro-temporal measures of signal similarity. These measures are then used for establishing a scoring system based on an adaptive weighting and reinforcement formulation. The method was experimentally tested as a pre-processing step for a multi-class discrimination problem of 4-digit activation. The approach was proven to enhance the discriminative information content of high-density EMG signals, as well as to attenuate non-stationary artefacts, with improvements in accuracy and robustness of the classification.
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Meznaric M, Čarni A. Characterisation of flexor digitorum profundus, flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum communis by electrophoresis and immunohistochemical analysis of myosin heavy chain isoforms in older men. Ann Anat 2020; 227:151412. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2019.151412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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