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A Human-machine-interface Integrating Low-cost Sensors with a Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation System for Post-stroke Balance Rehabilitation
Published on: April 12, 2016
Impaired balance control in paraplegic subjects.
H A Seelen1, Y J Potten, A Huson
1Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Department of Posture and Movement Research, Hoensbroek, the Netherlands.
Summary
Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) utilize different muscles, like the latissimus dorsi (LD) and trapezius pars ascendens (TPA), for sitting balance. This contrasts with non-SCI individuals who primarily use erector spinae (ES) muscles.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Sitting balance control is crucial for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
- Understanding adaptive postural strategies in SCI is essential for developing targeted interventions.
- Previous research suggests altered muscle recruitment patterns following SCI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate postural muscle activation during sitting balance in individuals with complete thoracic SCI.
- To compare muscle use between high thoracic SCI, low thoracic SCI, and non-SCI groups.
- To explore the role of alternative muscle groups in maintaining balance after SCI.
Main Methods:
- Participants included three groups: low thoracic SCI, high thoracic SCI, and non-SCI individuals.
- Sitting balance was perturbed systematically while measuring center of pressure changes.
- Electromyography (EMG) recorded activity of key postural muscles including latissimus dorsi (LD), trapezius pars ascendens (TPA), pectoralis major (PM), serratus anterior (SA), erector spinae (ES), and oblique abdominal (OA) muscles.
- Pelvic movement and its correlation with postural changes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- High thoracic SCI subjects demonstrated increased recruitment of LD, TPA, PM, SA, and upper ES muscles compared to non-SCI subjects during perturbed sitting.
- Low thoracic SCI subjects showed intermediate muscle activation patterns between high thoracic SCI and non-SCI groups.
- Differences in muscle activation were linked to altered pelvic mobility in SCI participants.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with high thoracic SCI adapt their postural strategies by engaging shoulder and upper back muscles for sitting balance.
- These findings highlight the importance of alternative muscle synergies in SCI.
- The study suggests a kinematic concept explaining altered postural control in thoracic SCI, emphasizing the need for tailored rehabilitation approaches.