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Bongiorno G, Sisti G, Dal Mas F, Biancuzzi H, Varrecchia T, Chini G, Ranavolo A, Pellegrini B, Bortolan L, Miceli L. The Kinematic and Electromyographic Analysis of Roller Skating at Different Speeds on a Treadmill: A Case Study. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:5738. [PMID: 39275648 PMCID: PMC11397868 DOI: 10.3390/s24175738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/16/2024]
Abstract
Elite athletes in speed roller skates perceive skating to be a more demanding exercise for the groin when compared to other cyclic disciplines, increasing their risk of injury. The objective of this study was to monitor the kinematic and electromyographic parameters of roller speed skaters, linearly, on a treadmill, and to compare different skating speeds, one at 20 km/h and one at 32 km/h, at a 1° inclination. The acquisition was carried out by placing an inertial sensor at the level of the first sacral vertebra, and eight surface electromyographic probes on both lower limbs. The kinematic and electromyographic analysis on the treadmill showed that a higher speed requires more muscle activation, in terms of maximum and average values and co-activation, as it not only increases the intrinsic muscle demand in the district, but also the athlete's ability to coordinate the skating technique. The present study allows us to indicate not only how individual muscle districts are activated during skating on a surface different from the road, but also how different speeds affect the overall district load distributions concerning effective force, which is essential for the physiotherapist and kinesiologist for preventive and conditional purposes, while also considering possible variations in the skating technique in linear advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bongiorno
- Physiotherapy Department, Friuli Riabilitazione, 33080 Roveredo in Piano, Italy
| | - Giulio Sisti
- IRCCS C.R.O. National Cancer Institute of Aviano, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Francesca Dal Mas
- Department of Management, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 30121 Venice, Italy
- Collegium Medicum, University of Social Sciences, 90-229 Lodz, Poland
| | - Helena Biancuzzi
- Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 30121 Venice, Italy
| | - Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Chini
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Pellegrini
- CeRiSM, Sport Mountain and Health Research Center, University of Verona, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Bortolan
- CeRiSM, Sport Mountain and Health Research Center, University of Verona, 38068 Rovereto, Italy
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Miceli
- Department of Pain Medicine, IRCCS C.R.O. National Cancer Institute of Aviano, 33081 Aviano, 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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Bandini V, Carpinella I, Marzegan A, Jonsdottir J, Frigo CA, Avanzino L, Pelosin E, Ferrarin M, Lencioni T. Surface-Electromyography-Based Co-Contraction Index for Monitoring Upper Limb Improvements in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Secondary Analysis. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:7320. [PMID: 37687775 PMCID: PMC10490112 DOI: 10.3390/s23177320] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Persons post-stroke experience excessive muscle co-contraction, and consequently the arm functions are compromised during the activities of daily living. Therefore, identifying instrumental outcome measures able to detect the motor strategy adopted after a stroke is a primary clinical goal. Accordingly, this study aims at verifying whether the surface electromyography (sEMG)-based co-contraction index (CCI) could be a new clinically feasible approach for assessing and monitoring patients' motor performance. Thirty-four persons post-stroke underwent clinical assessment and upper extremity kinematic analysis, including sEMG recordings. The participants were randomized into two treatment groups (robot and usual care groups). Ten healthy subjects provided a normative reference (NR). Frost's CCI was used to quantify the muscle co-contraction of three different agonist/antagonist muscle pairs during an object-placing task. Persons post-stroke showed excessive muscle co-contraction (mean (95% CI): anterior/posterior deltoid CCI: 0.38 (0.34-0.41) p = 0.03; triceps/biceps CCI: 0.46 (0.41-0.50) p = 0.01) compared to NR (anterior/posterior deltoid CCI: 0.29 (0.21-0.36); triceps/biceps CCI: 0.34 (0.30-0.39)). After robot therapy, persons post-stroke exhibited a greater improvement (i.e., reduced CCI) in proximal motor control (anterior/posterior deltoid change score of CCI: -0.02 (-0.07-0.02) p = 0.05) compared to usual care therapy (0.04 (0.00-0.09)). Finally, the findings of the present study indicate that the sEMG-based CCI could be a valuable tool in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Bandini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy; (V.B.); (I.C.); (A.M.); (J.J.); (T.L.)
| | - Ilaria Carpinella
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy; (V.B.); (I.C.); (A.M.); (J.J.); (T.L.)
| | - Alberto Marzegan
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy; (V.B.); (I.C.); (A.M.); (J.J.); (T.L.)
| | - Johanna Jonsdottir
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy; (V.B.); (I.C.); (A.M.); (J.J.); (T.L.)
| | - Carlo Albino Frigo
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Laura Avanzino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Elisa Pelosin
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, IRCCS, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal Child Health, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Maurizio Ferrarin
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy; (V.B.); (I.C.); (A.M.); (J.J.); (T.L.)
| | - Tiziana Lencioni
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Via Capecelatro 66, 20148 Milan, Italy; (V.B.); (I.C.); (A.M.); (J.J.); (T.L.)
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Shih HJS, Ai J, Abe J, Tang J, Rowley KM, Van Dillen LR, Kulig K. Trunk control in and out of an episode of recurrent low back pain in young adults during the Balance-Dexterity Task. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2023; 71:102794. [PMID: 37348263 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102794] [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: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated motor control strategies utilized by individuals with recurrent low back pain (rLBP) during active pain and remission periods as well as by back-healthy controls using the Balance-Dexterity Task. Nineteen young adults with rLBP were tested first when they were in pain and then again in symptom remission, and 19 matched controls were also tested. Trunk kinematic coupling and muscle co-activation were examined while participants performed the task by standing on one leg while compressing a spring with a maximum consistent force with the other leg. We found a decreased bilateral external oblique co-activation during the spring condition of the task compared to the stable block condition in people with rLBP compared to back healthy individuals. There was also reduced trunk coupling during the spring condition of the task compared to the stable block condition in both the rLBP active and remission groups, but no group difference between rLBP and back-healthy individuals. When individuals were in active pain, they exhibited more co-activation than when they were in remission, but the co-activation during active pain was not greater than in back-healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Jung Steffi Shih
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Joyce Ai
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Justin Abe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jiaxi Tang
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - K Michael Rowley
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Kinesiology Department, California State University East Bay, Hayward, CA, United States
| | - Linda R Van Dillen
- Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis Medical School, St. Louis, MO, United States; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis Medical School, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kornelia Kulig
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Woods S, O'Mahoney C, McKiel A, Natale L, Falk B. Child-Adult differences in antagonist muscle coactivation: A systematic review. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2023; 68:102727. [PMID: 36525931 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2022.102727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Antagonist coactivation is the simultaneous activation of agonist and antagonist muscles during a motor task. Age-related changes in coactivation may contribute to observed differences in muscle performance between children and adults. Our aim was to systematically summarize age-related differences in antagonist muscle coactivation during multi-joint dynamic and single-joint isometric and isokinetic contractions. Electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies comparing coactivation in upper or lower extremity muscles between healthy children and adolescents/young adults. Of the 1083 studies initially identified, 25 met eligibility criteria. Thirteen studies examined multi-joint dynamic movements, 10 single-joint isometric contractions, and 2 single-joint isokinetic contractions. Of the studies investigating multi-joint dynamic contractions, 83% (11/13 studies) reported at least one significant age-related difference: In 84% (9/11 studies) coactivation was higher in children, whereas 16% (2/11 studies) reported higher coactivation in adults. Among single-joint contractions, only 25% (3/12 studies) reported significantly higher coactivation in children. Fifty six percent of studies examined females, with no clear sex-related differences. Child-adult differences in coactivation appear to be more prevalent during multi-joint dynamic contractions, where generally, coactivation is higher in children. When examining child-adult differences in muscle function, it is important to consider potential age-related differences in coactivation, specifically during multi-joint dynamic contractions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey Woods
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada; Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Caragh O'Mahoney
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew McKiel
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada; Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Laurel Natale
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Bareket Falk
- Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada; Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.
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Corvini G, Conforto S. A Simulation Study to Assess the Factors of Influence on Mean and Median Frequency of sEMG Signals during Muscle Fatigue. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:6360. [PMID: 36080818 PMCID: PMC9459987 DOI: 10.3390/s22176360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mean and Median frequency are typically used for detecting and monitoring muscle fatigue. These parameters are extracted from power spectral density whose estimate can be obtained by several techniques, each one characterized by advantages and disadvantages. Previous works studied how the implementation settings can influence the performance of these techniques; nevertheless, the estimation results have never been fully evaluated when the power density spectrum is in a low-frequency zone, as happens to the surface electromyography (sEMG) spectrum during muscle fatigue. The latter is therefore the objective of this study that has compared the Welch and the autoregressive parametric approaches on synthetic sEMG signals simulating severe muscle fatigue. Moreover, the sensitivity of both the approaches to the observation duration and to the level of noise has been analyzed. Results showed that the mean frequency greatly depends on the noise level, and that for Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) less than 10dB the errors make the estimate unacceptable. On the other hand, the error in calculating the median frequency is always in the range 2-10 Hz, so this parameter should be preferred in the tracking of muscle fatigue. Results show that the autoregressive model always outperforms the Welch technique, and that the 3rd order continuously produced accurate and precise estimates; consequently, the latter should be used when analyzing severe fatiguing contraction.
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Estimation of mean and median frequency from synthetic sEMG signals: Effects of different spectral shapes and noise on estimation methods. Biomed Signal Process Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2021.103420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Varrecchia T, Conforto S, De Nunzio AM, Draicchio F, Falla D, Ranavolo A. Trunk Muscle Coactivation in People with and without Low Back Pain during Fatiguing Frequency-Dependent Lifting Activities. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:1417. [PMID: 35214319 PMCID: PMC8874369 DOI: 10.3390/s22041417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Lifting tasks are manual material-handling activities and are commonly associated with work-related low back disorders. Instrument-based assessment tools are used to quantitatively assess the biomechanical risk associated with lifting activities. This study aims at highlighting different motor strategies in people with and without low back pain (LBP) during fatiguing frequency-dependent lifting tasks by using parameters of muscle coactivation. A total of 15 healthy controls (HC) and eight people with LBP performed three lifting tasks with a progressively increasing lifting index (LI), each lasting 15 min. Bilaterally erector spinae longissimus (ESL) activity and rectus abdominis superior (RAS) were recorded using bipolar surface electromyography systems (sEMG), and the time-varying multi-muscle coactivation function (TMCf) was computed. The TMCf can significantly discriminate each pair of LI and it is higher in LBP than HC. Collectively, our findings suggest that it is possible to identify different motor strategies between people with and without LBP. The main finding shows that LBP, to counteract pain, coactivates the trunk muscles more than HC, thereby adopting a strategy that is stiffer and more fatiguing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiwana Varrecchia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, 00078 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.R.)
- Department of Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Conforto
- Department of Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Roma Tre University, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marco De Nunzio
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, LUNEX International University of Health, Exercise and Sports, 4671 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
- Luxembourg Health & Sport Sciences Research Institute A.s.b.l., 4671 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Francesco Draicchio
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, 00078 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.R.)
| | - Deborah Falla
- Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Alberto Ranavolo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL, 00078 Rome, Italy; (T.V.); (F.D.); (A.R.)
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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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Di Nardo F, Morbidoni C, Cucchiarelli A, Fioretti S. Influence of EMG-signal processing and experimental set-up on prediction of gait events by neural network. Biomed Signal Process Control 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2020.102232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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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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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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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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14
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Ghislieri M, Agostini V, Knaflitz M. Muscle Synergies Extracted Using Principal Activations: Improvement of Robustness and Interpretability. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2020; 28:453-460. [PMID: 31944961 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2020.2965179] [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
The muscle synergy theory has been widely used to assess the modular organization of the central nervous system (CNS) during human locomotion. The pre-processing approach applied to the surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals influences the extraction of muscle synergies. The aim of this contribution is to assess the improvements in muscle synergy extraction obtained by using an innovative pre-processing approach. We evaluate the improvement in terms of the possible variation in the number of muscle synergies, of the intra-subject consistency, of the robustness, and of the interpretability of the results. The pre-processing approach presented in this paper is based on the extraction of the muscle principal activations (muscle activations strictly necessary to accomplish a specific biomechanical task) from the original sEMG signals, to then obtain muscle synergies using principal activations only. The results herein presented show that the application of this novel approach for the extraction of the muscle synergies provides a more robust and easily interpretable description of the modular organization of the CNS with respect to the standard pre-processing approach.
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