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Relationship between Muscular Activity and Postural Control Changes after Proprioceptive Focal Stimulation
Fabiola Spolaor1, Marco Romanato1, Guiotto Annamaria1
1Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 20, 2021
Summary
Equistasi®, a wearable device, improved postural control and muscular activity in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. This neurorehabilitation device showed positive effects on the peripheral and central nervous systems, enhancing gait and balance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts motor control and balance.
- Wearable devices offer potential for novel neurorehabilitation strategies.
- Understanding the interplay between muscular activity and postural control is crucial for PD management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of the Equistasi® wearable device on postural control and muscular activity in PD patients.
- To quantitatively assess the device's impact on gait parameters and balance.
- To explore correlations between proprioceptive changes and muscle activity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a six-camera stereophotogrammetric system and force plates for gait analysis.
- Recorded surface electromyography (sEMG) of key leg muscles (Rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius lateralis).
- Analyzed frequency-domain posturographic parameters and calculated peak envelope (PoE) and its position (PPoE).
Main Results:
- Equistasi® treatment led to a shift in mid-low and mid-high frequency components of postural control towards normal values.
- Observed improvements in PoE and PPoE, indicating enhanced muscular activity regulation during gait.
- Found significant correlations between proprioception changes and the activity of gastrocnemius lateralis, biceps femoris, and tibialis anterior.
Conclusions:
- The Equistasi® device demonstrates a quantitative effect on the peripheral and central nervous systems in PD.
- Results suggest potential for Equistasi® as an effective neurorehabilitation tool for improving motor function in Parkinson's disease.
- This study provides a basis for further research into wearable technology for PD management.
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