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Updated: May 18, 2026
07:53
Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Published on: September 13, 2015
Review and perspective: neuromechanical considerations for predicting muscle activation patterns for movement
Lena H Ting1, Stacie A Chvatal, Seyed A Safavynia
1The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, 313 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332-0535, USA. lting@emory.edu
Summary
The nervous system constrains muscle coordination for movement, even with redundant musculoskeletal systems. Understanding neural control reveals task-level goals and muscle synergies for movement in healthy and impaired individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
Background:
- Musculoskeletal system redundancy makes muscle coordination hard to predict using biomechanics alone.
- The nervous system plays a crucial role in constraining muscle coordination for both healthy and impaired motor control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate neural constraints on muscle activity patterns during locomotion and postural responses.
- To propose a hierarchical, low-dimensional framework for understanding subject-specific and trial-by-trial differences in muscle activation.
Main Methods:
- Computational neuromechanical analyses integrating experimental data and modeling techniques.
- Examination of temporal and spatial patterns of muscle activity during balance perturbations and locomotion.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated neural constraints on muscle activity patterns.
- Identified feedback control of task-level variables governing temporal muscle activity patterns in postural control.
- Showcased recruitment of muscle synergies for multijoint coordination.
Conclusions:
- Neural control of movement is organized hierarchically, focusing on task-level goals.
- Muscle synergies are fundamental to achieving biomechanical functions and multijoint coordination.
- This framework offers insights into movement variations in healthy and motor-impaired populations.
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