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Related Experiment Videos

Reviewing Muscle Cocontraction.

Diane L Damiano1

  • 1a PhD candidate in the Department of Human Services, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia, and Senior Research Physical Therapist, Motion Analysis Laboratory, Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center, Charlottesville, VA 22903.

Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
|April 4, 2017
PubMed
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Muscle cocontraction, an inefficient force use, decreases with age and is seen in infants, those with central nervous system (CNS) damage, and during new motor skill learning. This highlights its role in motor development and disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Muscle cocontraction is mechanically inefficient, involving opposing muscle forces that minimize net movement.
  • Reciprocal muscle activation is typical in mature motor skills, gait, and posture.
  • Cocontraction is observed in infants, individuals with central nervous system (CNS) damage, and adults learning new complex skills.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between muscle cocontraction in infants, CNS damage, and novel motor skill acquisition.
  • To summarize the developmental decrease in cocontraction with age.
  • To describe the role of cocontraction in motor skill development and movement disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Review of developmental trends in muscle cocontraction.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of the relationship between cocontraction and motor skill acquisition.
  • Exploration of cocontraction in central nervous system (CNS) deficits and movement disorders.

    • Main Results:

    • Muscle cocontraction decreases significantly as individuals mature.
    • Cocontraction is prevalent during the learning of new, complex motor skills.
    • Elevated cocontraction is a characteristic of certain movement disorders associated with CNS damage.

    Conclusions:

    • Muscle cocontraction patterns reflect developmental stages and motor learning processes.
    • Understanding cocontraction is crucial for diagnosing and managing movement disorders in individuals with CNS damage.
    • The study synthesizes findings on cocontraction across development, skill acquisition, and neurological conditions.