Analysis of compensatory muscles during walking in paraplegic patients

The activity of compensatory muscles during walking was analysed in three paraplegics. The purpose of this study was to find out how the loss of motion of the lower extermities can be compensated and which muscles compensate most efficiently. This activity was assessed by clinical and EMG studies of thoracic and dorsal muscle contraction during swing-through gait. The study started with the first walking trial for each paraplegic, using a treadmill. At that time, all the thoracic and dorsal muscles (which were normal: 5 at the manual testing) showed a full contraction which gave an interferential pattern at the EMG. After 10 weeks, the activity of some muscles was already well rationalised (latissimus dorsi, rhomboids) in such a way that these muscles adapted themselves: contraction was followed by a period of rest which was observed clinically and recorded at the EMG. On the other hand, some muscles presented an irregular activity or even lack of activity (abdominal muscles). After 3 months there was no further modification of these patterns. In fact, thoracic muscles exhibited an excellent compensation by adaptation and rationalisation of their activity. The latissimus dorsi seemed to compensate most efficiently of all.