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St. George LB, Spoormakers TJP, Smit IH, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Roy SH, van Weeren PR, Richards J, Serra Bragança FM. Adaptations in equine appendicular muscle activity and movement occur during induced fore- and hindlimb lameness: An electromyographic and kinematic evaluation. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:989522. [DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.989522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between lameness-related adaptations in equine appendicular motion and muscle activation is poorly understood and has not been studied objectively. The aim of this study was to compare muscle activity of selected fore- and hindlimb muscles, and movement of the joints they act on, between baseline and induced forelimb (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness. Three-dimensional kinematic data and surface electromyography (sEMG) data from the fore- (triceps brachii, latissimus dorsi) and hindlimbs (superficial gluteal, biceps femoris, semitendinosus) were bilaterally and synchronously collected from clinically non-lame horses (n = 8) trotting over-ground (baseline). Data collections were repeated during iFL and iHL conditions (2–3/5 AAEP), induced on separate days using a modified horseshoe. Motion asymmetry parameters and continuous joint and pro-retraction angles for each limb were calculated from kinematic data. Normalized average rectified value (ARV) and muscle activation onset, offset and activity duration were calculated from sEMG signals. Mixed model analysis and statistical parametric mapping, respectively, compared discrete and continuous variables between conditions (α= 0.05). Asymmetry parameters reflected the degree of iFL and iHL. Increased ARV occurred across muscles following iFL and iHL, except non-lame side forelimb muscles that significantly decreased following iFL. Significant, limb-specific changes in sEMG ARV, and activation timings reflected changes in joint angles and phasic shifts of the limb movement cycle following iFL and iHL. Muscular adaptations during iFL and iHL are detectable using sEMG and primarily involve increased bilateral activity and phasic activation shifts that reflect known compensatory movement patterns for reducing weightbearing on the lame limb. With further research and development, sEMG may provide a valuable diagnostic aid for quantifying the underlying neuromuscular adaptations to equine lameness, which are undetectable through human observation alone.
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Cheng YS, Chien A, Lai DM, Lee YY, Cheng CH, Wang SF, Chang YJ, Wang JL, Hsu WL. Perturbation-Based Balance Training in Postoperative Individuals With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:108. [PMID: 32154235 PMCID: PMC7044125 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a common aging condition caused by spinal cord compression. Individuals with DCM often presented with residual balance and functional impairments postoperatively. Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) has been shown to have positive effects on populations with neurological disorders but has yet to be investigated in DCM. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the effects of PBT on balance and functional performance in postoperative individuals with DCM. Fifteen postoperative individuals with DCM (DCM group) and 14 healthy adults (healthy control group) were recruited. The DCM group received a 4-weeks PBT using a perturbation treadmill. The outcome measures included mean velocity of center of pressure (COP) during quiet standing; center of mass (COM) variance and reaction time to balance perturbation during standing with forward and backward perturbation; gait speed during level ground walking; Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and disability questionnaire scores including Visual Analog Scale, Neck Disability Index, and Lower Extremity Function of Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire. The assessments were conducted pre- and post-training postoperatively for the DCM group but only once for the healthy control group. Significant improvements were observed in the mean velocity of COP, COM variance, reaction time, gait speed, and TUG in the DCM group. Disability questionnaire scores were not significantly different after training in DCM group. For between-group comparisons, significant differences that were observed pre-training were not observed post-training. The 4-weeks PBT is a potential rehabilitation strategy for addressing balance and functional impairment in postoperative individuals with DCM. In addition, the post-training performance in the DCM group exhibited trends comparable to those of age-matched healthy controls. Furthermore, the training regimens offer a practical reference for future studies on populations with balance disorders. Future studies complemented with neurophysiological assessments could reveal more information of the underlying mechanisms of PBT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Shan Cheng
- School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Andy Chien
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Dar-Ming Lai
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Yun Lee
- School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsiu Cheng
- School of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shwu-Fen Wang
- School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Ju Chang
- School of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Jaw-Lin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Li Hsu
- School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Physical Therapy Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Mochizuki AA, Sudo MM, Kirino E, Itoh K. Brain activation associated with motor imagery of coordination exercises and social abilities. Eur J Sport Sci 2014; 14:671-7. [PMID: 24621266 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2014.893019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The purposes of the present study were: (1) to investigate the brain activation associated with coordination exercises done by one person and those by two persons and (2) to examine the interrelationships between the brain activation and social abilities. We were interested in testing the hypothesis that viewing two-person coordination exercises evokes more sophisticated brain activation than viewing one-person coordination exercises. Thirty Japanese college students served as subjects. There were two sessions in this study: the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session and the social ability session. In the fMRI session, the subjects were instructed to imagine they were performing coordination exercises. Also, we examined the social abilities from the viewpoint of empathising. Empathising was measured by self-reports on the Systemising, Empathy and Autism Spectrum Quotients (SQ, EQ and AQ). Regarding brain activation, blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activation was significant in specific areas such as the left cuneus (Brodmann area: BA 17) when the subjects imagined they were performing exercises involving two persons, as compared with the cases when they imagined they were performing exercises involving only one person. The fMRI results showed that exercises done by two persons require more sophisticated communication than those done by one person. Furthermore, the results of this study suggested that those with more autistic traits may undergo difficulties in the exercises done by two persons, especially in the case of playing a role as a follower.
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Rupp R, Plewa H, Schuld C, Gerner HJ, Hofer EP, Knestel M. MotionTherapy@Home - First results of a clinical study with a novel robotic device for automated locomotion therapy at home. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 56:11-21. [PMID: 21080894 DOI: 10.1515/bmt.2010.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In incomplete spinal cord injured subjects, task-oriented training regimes are applied for enhancement of neuroplasticity to improve gait capacity. However, a sufficient training intensity can only be achieved during the inpatient phase, which is getting shorter and shorter due to economic restrictions. In the clinical environment, complex and expensive robotic devices have been introduced to maintain the duration and the intensity of the training, but up to now only a few exist for continuation of automated locomotion training at home. For continuation of the automated locomotion training at home prototypes of the compact, pneumatically driven orthosis MoreGait have been realized, which generate the key afferent stimuli for activation of the spinal gait pattern generator. Artificial pneumatic muscles with excellent weight-to-force ratio and safety characteristics have been integrated as joint actuators. Additionally, a Stimulative Shoe for generation of the appropriate foot loading pattern has been developed without the need for verticalization of the user. The first results of the pilot study in eight chronic incomplete spinal cord injured subjects indicate that the home-based therapy is safe and feasible. The therapy related improvements of the walking capacity are in the range of locomotion robots used in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rüdiger Rupp
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Germany.
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