Deficits in motor coordination of the paretic lower limb limit the ability to immediately increase walking speed in individuals with chronic stroke

Certain muscle groups strength directly influence walking speed (WS), and the lower strength of the paretic side is significantly associated with lower WS of individuals after stroke. Studies that have investigated the association between the average of lower limb strength and the WS in individuals are scarce. Therefore, it is important to determine whether the strength could explain walking performance due to some muscle weakness could be compensated by the strength of others, mainly because all muscles act in group, not isolated. Objective: To investigate the association between WS and lower limbs muscle strength, and to identify whether an individual muscle group or the average strength of lower limb would best predict WS and walking speed reserve (WSR) in individuals with stroke. Methods: Sixty-four community-dwelling individuals with chronic stroke have their maximum isometric strength (hip flexors/extensors/abductors, knee flexors/extensors, and ankle dorsiflexors/plantarflexors) and self-selected and fast WS (10m walk test) measured. WSR was considered as the difference between the fast and self-selected speed. Results: Average strength of the paretic limb accounted for 19% and 20% of the variance in self-selected and fast WS, respectively. Plantarflexor strength of the paretic, knee and hip flexors of the non-paretic side explained alone 27% of the WSR scores and plantarflexor strength of the paretic side alone explained 15%.Conclusion: Average muscle strength of the paretic side contributed to self-selected and fast WS. Plantarflexor strength of the paretic side, knee and hip flexors of the non-paretic side contributed with the WSR of chronic stroke individuals.

Download Full-text

Lower-limb motor coordination is significantly impaired in ambulatory people with chronic stroke: A cross-sectional study

Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine ◽

10.2340/16501977-2215 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 322-326 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

K Menezes ◽

L Nascimento ◽

M Pinheiro ◽

A Scianni ◽

C Faria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Chronic Stroke ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

Download Full-text

Absence of a Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation–Induced Lower Limb Corticomotor Response Does Not Affect Walking Speed in Chronic Stroke Survivors

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.118.021718 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 49 (8) ◽

pp. 2004-2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Anjali Sivaramakrishnan ◽

Sangeetha Madhavan

Keyword(s):

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Chronic Stroke ◽

Stroke Survivors

Download Full-text

INFLUENCE OF FOOT INSOLE ON THE GAIT PERFORMANCE IN SUBJECTS WITH FLAT FOOT DISORDER

Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology ◽

10.1142/s0219519419500507 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (06) ◽

pp. 1950050

Author(s):

M. T. KARIMI ◽

R. B. TAHMASEBI ◽

B. SATVATI ◽

F. FATOYE

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Ankle Joint ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Force Plate ◽

Flat Foot ◽

Gait Performance ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Foot Disorder

Flat foot is the most common foot disorder that influences the alignment of the lower limb structure. It is controversial whether the use of foot insole influences kinetic and kinematic of the leg or not. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of foot insole on the gait performance in subjects with flat foot disorder. A group of flat foot subject was recruited into this study (the number of subjects was 15). The motion of the leg joints was determined using the Qualysis motion analysis system. Moreover, the force applied on the lower limb was recorded by a Kistler force plate. The range of motion of the lower limb joints, the moments applied on the lower limb joints and force transmitted through the leg were the parameters used in this study. The difference between these parameters during walking with and without insole was evaluated using the paired [Formula: see text]-test. Significant value was set at [Formula: see text]. There was no significant difference between the range of motion of ankle joint while walking with and without insole. However, the medial directed force applied on the leg decreased significantly [Formula: see text]. The use of foot insole did not influence the moments transmitted through the hip and knee joints. The walking speed of the subjects improved while walking with foot insole. Use of foot insole influenced the magnitude of the force applied on the leg and the adductor moment of ankle joint due to its influence on foot alignment. As the walking speed of the improved subjects follows the use of insole, it can be concluded that it may have a positive effects on the performance of flat foot subjects.

Download Full-text

Modulation of spatial and temporal modules in lower limb muscle activations during walking with simulated reduced gravity

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94201-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shota Hagio ◽

Makoto Nakazato ◽

Motoki Kouzaki

Keyword(s):

Matrix Factorization ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Nonnegative Matrix Factorization ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Nonnegative Matrix ◽

Tensor Decomposition ◽

Reduced Gravity ◽

Dependent Variables ◽

Specific Speed ◽

Muscle Activations

AbstractGravity plays a crucial role in shaping patterned locomotor output to maintain dynamic stability during locomotion. The present study aimed to clarify the gravity-dependent regulation of modules that organize multiple muscle activities during walking in humans. Participants walked on a treadmill at seven speeds (1–6 km h−1 and a subject- and gravity-specific speed determined by the Froude number (Fr) corresponding to 0.25) while their body weight was partially supported by a lift to simulate walking with five levels of gravity conditions from 0.07 to 1 g. Modules, i.e., muscle-weighting vectors (spatial modules) and phase-dependent activation coefficients (temporal modules), were extracted from 12 lower-limb electromyographic (EMG) activities in each gravity (Fr ~ 0.25) using nonnegative matrix factorization. Additionally, a tensor decomposition model was fit to the EMG data to quantify variables depending on the gravity conditions and walking speed with prescribed spatial and temporal modules. The results demonstrated that muscle activity could be explained by four modules from 1 to 0.16 g and three modules at 0.07 g, and the modules were shared for both spatial and temporal components among the gravity conditions. The task-dependent variables of the modules acting on the supporting phase linearly decreased with decreasing gravity, whereas that of the module contributing to activation prior to foot contact showed nonlinear U-shaped modulation. Moreover, the profiles of the gravity-dependent modulation changed as a function of walking speed. In conclusion, reduced gravity walking was achieved by regulating the contribution of prescribed spatial and temporal coordination in muscle activities.

Download Full-text