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Hand Motor Fatigability Induced by a Simple Isometric Task in Spinal Cord Injury
Ana Onate-Figuérez1,2,3, Vanesa Soto-León1, Juan Avendaño-Coy2,3
1FENNSI Group, National Hospital for Paraplegics, SESCAM, 45071 Toledo, Spain.
Abstract:
This study aimed: (1) to evaluate the hand motor fatigability in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and compare it with measurements obtained form an able-bodied population; (2) to compare the hand motor fatigability in people with tetraplegia and in people with paraplegia; and (3) to analyse if motor fatigability is different in people with SCI with and without clinical significant perceived fatigability.
Materials And Methods:
96 participants with SCI (40 cervical and 56 thoracolumbar) and 63 able-bodied controls performed a simple hand isometric task to assess motor fatigability. The Fatigue Severity Scale was used for perceived fatigability evaluation.
Results:
The main results of this study can be summarized as follows: (1) the waning in muscle force (motor fatigability) during a fatiguing task is similar in controls and participants with SCI; (2) the motor fatigability is influenced by the maximal muscle force (measured at the beginning of the task); and (3) the perceived fatigability and the motor fatigability are largely independent in the individuals with SCI.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that the capability to maintain a prolonged effort is preserved in SCI, and this capacity depends on the residual maximal muscle force in people with SCI.
