Frequency response of vestibular reflexes in neck, back, and lower limb muscles

2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (8) ◽  
pp. 1869-1881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick A. Forbes ◽  
Christopher J. Dakin ◽  
Alistair N. Vardy ◽  
Riender Happee ◽  
Gunter P. Siegmund ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Unit ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Neck Muscle ◽  
Vestibular Reflexes ◽  
Frequency Responses ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles

Vestibular pathways form short-latency disynaptic connections with neck motoneurons, whereas they form longer-latency disynaptic and polysynaptic connections with lower limb motoneurons. We quantified frequency responses of vestibular reflexes in neck, back, and lower limb muscles to explain between-muscle differences. Two hypotheses were evaluated: 1) that muscle-specific motor-unit properties influence the bandwidth of vestibular reflexes; and 2) that frequency responses of vestibular reflexes differ between neck, back, and lower limb muscles because of neural filtering. Subjects were exposed to electrical vestibular stimuli over bandwidths of 0–25 and 0–75 Hz while recording activity in sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, erector spinae, soleus, and medial gastrocnemius muscles. Coherence between stimulus and muscle activity revealed markedly larger vestibular reflex bandwidths in neck muscles (0–70 Hz) than back (0–15 Hz) or lower limb muscles (0–20 Hz). In addition, vestibular reflexes in back and lower limb muscles undergo low-pass filtering compared with neck-muscle responses, which span a broader dynamic range. These results suggest that the wider bandwidth of head-neck biomechanics requires a vestibular influence on neck-muscle activation across a larger dynamic range than lower limb muscles. A computational model of vestibular afferents and a motoneuron pool indicates that motor-unit properties are not primary contributors to the bandwidth filtering of vestibular reflexes in different muscles. Instead, our experimental findings suggest that pathway-dependent neural filtering, not captured in our model, contributes to these muscle-specific responses. Furthermore, gain-phase discontinuities in the neck-muscle vestibular reflexes provide evidence of destructive interaction between different reflex components, likely via indirect vestibular-motor pathways.

scholarly journals Effect of Foot Orthoses on the Timing of Lower Limb Muscles Activity during Walking in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arefeh Mokhtari MalekAbadi ◽  
Amirali Jafarnezhadgero
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Gluteus Medius ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Female Group ◽  
Vastus Medialis ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles

Introduction: As a person gets older, their gait patterns change and their ability to walk decreases. Orthoses are used to relieve musculoskeletal disorders, skeletal problems, disabilities, etc. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of orthoses on timing of lower limb muscles in the older adults during gait. Methods: The present study was a clinical trial. 14 females (with average age of 60.50±4.40 years) and 14 males (with average age of 63.35±5.55 years) were selected with available sampling, voluntarily participated in this research. Eight electrodes were placed on the selected muscles (tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medial, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus medius, erector spinae) to record electrical activity during the gait with and without orthoses. To analyze the data SPSS software (version 16), and a repeated analysis of variance test was used. The significance levels in all tests were considered to be 0.05. Results: The main effects of orthoses and the interaction effects of orthoses and sex for the onset of selected muscles activities did not show any significant differences (P>0.05). The effect of sex for the onset of activities in medial gastrocnemius (P=0.007), vastus medialis (P=0.002), vastus lateralis (P=0.027), semitendinosus (P=0.004), gluteus medius (P=0.030), and erector spinae (P=0.039) muscles was significant, so that the onset of muscle activity in the female group was earlier than in the male group. Conclusion: Orthoses showed no improvement on onset of selected muscles activities, although significant differences were observed between the male and female groups.

Deficits in anticipatory inhibition of postural muscle activity associated with load release while standing in individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (8) ◽  
pp. 1996-2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidehito Tomita ◽  
Yoshiki Fukaya ◽  
Kenji Totsuka ◽  
Yuri Tsukahara
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Postural Muscle ◽  
Load Release

This study aimed to determine whether individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) have deficits in anticipatory inhibition of postural muscle activity. Nine individuals with SDCP (SDCP group, 3 female and 6 male, 13–24 yr of age) and nine age- and sex-matched individuals without disability (control group) participated in this study. Participants stood on a force platform, which was used to measure the position of the center of pressure (CoP), while holding a light or heavy load in front of their bodies. They then released the load by abducting both shoulders. Surface electromyograms were recorded from the rectus abdominis, erector spinae (ES), rectus femoris (RF), medial hamstring (MH), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GcM) muscles. In the control group, anticipatory inhibition before load release and load-related modulation of the inhibition were observed in all the dorsal muscles recorded (ES, MH, and GcM). In the SDCP group, similar results were obtained in the trunk muscle (ES) but not in the lower limb muscles (MH and GcM), although individual differences were seen, especially in MH. Anticipatory activation of the ventral lower limb muscles (RF and TA) and load-related modulation of the activation were observed in both participant groups. CoP path length during load release was longer in the SDCP group than in the control group. The present findings suggest that individuals with SDCP exhibit deficits in anticipatory inhibition of postural muscles at the dorsal part of the lower limbs, which is likely to result in a larger disturbance of postural equilibrium.

Motor unit firing frequency of lower limb muscles during an incremental slide board skating test

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 540-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiane Piucco ◽  
Rodrigo Bini ◽  
Masanori Sakaguchi ◽  
Fernando Diefenthaeler ◽  
Darren Stefanyshyn
Keyword(s):  
Motor Unit ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Motor Unit Firing ◽  
Limb Muscles

Analysis of the activation modalities of the lower limb muscles during walking

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 521-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Zhongli Li ◽  
Shuyan Qie ◽  
Huaqing Yang ◽  
Xuemei Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Gait Cycle ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Peak Time ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Emg Signal ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Activation Intervals

BACKGROUND: Walking is a basic human activity and many orthopedic diseases can manifest with gait abnormalities. However, the muscle activation intervals of lower limbs are not clear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the contraction patterns of lower limb muscles by analyzing activation intervals using surface electromyography (SEMG) during walking. METHODS: Four muscles including the tibialis anterior (TA), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and rectus femoris (RF) of bilateral lower extremity of 92 healthy subjects were selected for SEMG measurements. The number of activations (activation intervals) and the point of the highest root mean square (RMS) EMG signal in the percentage of the gait cycle (GC) were used to analyze muscle activities. RESULTS: The majority of TA and RF showed two activation intervals and both gastrocnemius parts three activation intervals during walking. The point of the highest RMS EMG signal in the percentage of the GC for TA, LG, MG and RF are 5%, 41%, 40%, and 8%, respectively. The activation intervals were mostly affected by age, height, different genders and bilateral limbs. CONCLUSION: This study identified the different activation intervals (four for each muscle) and the proportion of healthy adults in which they occurred during the normal gait cycle. These different activation intervals provided a new insight to evaluate the function of nerves and muscles. In addition, the activation interval and RMS peak time proposed in this study can be used as new parameters for gait analysis.

scholarly journals Characterization of Motor-Evoked Responses Obtained with Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Stimulation from the Lower-Limb Muscles after Stroke

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
Yaejin Moon ◽  
Taylor Zuleger ◽  
Martina Lamberti ◽  
Ashir Bansal ◽  
Chaithanya K. Mummidisetty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Stroke Survivors ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Spinal Motor ◽  
Paretic Side ◽  
Resting Motor Threshold ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Stroke Group

An increasing number of studies suggests that a novel neuromodulation technique targeting the spinal circuitry enhances gait rehabilitation, but research on its application to stroke survivors is limited. Therefore, we investigated the characteristics of spinal motor-evoked responses (sMERs) from lower-limb muscles obtained by transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) after stroke compared to age-matched and younger controls without stroke. Thirty participants (ten stroke survivors, ten age-matched controls, and ten younger controls) completed the study. By using tSCS applied between the L1 and L2 vertebral levels, we compared sMER characteristics (resting motor threshold (RMT), slope of the recruitment curve, and latency) of the tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles among groups. A single pulse of stimulation was delivered in 5 mA increments, increasing from 5 mA to 250 mA or until the subjects reached their maximum tolerance. The stroke group had an increased RMT (27–51%) compared to both age-matched (TA: p = 0.032; MG: p = 0.005) and younger controls (TA: p < 0.001; MG: p<0.001). For the TA muscle, the paretic side demonstrated a 13% increased latency compared to the non-paretic side in the stroke group (p = 0.010). Age-matched controls also exhibited an increased RMT compared to younger controls (TA: p = 0.002; MG: p = 0.007), suggesting that altered sMER characteristics present in stroke survivors may result from both stroke and normal aging. This observation may provide implications for altered spinal motor output after stroke and demonstrates the feasibility of using sMER characteristics as an assessment after stroke.

scholarly journals Comparison of muscle activity, strength and balance, before and after a 6-month training using the FIFA11+ program (part 2)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Oshima ◽  
Junsuke Nakase ◽  
Anri Inaki ◽  
Takafumi Mochizuki ◽  
Yasushi Takata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Sports Injuries ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Knee Flexor ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Standardized Uptake Values ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Before And After

AbstractPurposeSports injuries can significantly impact an athlete’s career, as well as impose a high financial burden on teams. Therefore, the prevention of sports injuries is an essential aspect of sports medicine. To evaluate the effects of a 6-month training period, using part 2 of the FIFA11+, on the activation and strength of core and lower limb muscles, and on static and dynamic balance performance.Materials and MethodsEight college male soccer players, 20.4±0.5 years old, completed the FIFA11+ program (part 2) at least 3x per week for 6 months. The following variables were measured, before and after the 6-month training program: activity of more than 30 muscles (with a focus on core and lower limb muscles), measured using the standardized uptake values of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) on positron emission tomography (PET-CT); isokinetic strength of the knee flexor and extensor and hip abductor muscles, measured at 60°/s; static balance over a 60-s period, measured using a Gravicorder; and dynamic balance, measured using the Star Excursion Balance Test.ResultsTraining improved activity levels of core (obliquus externus abdominis and erector spinae) and lower limb (tibialis anterior of the both legs) muscles (p≤0.03), corrected the between-limb difference in activation of the semimembranosus and improved dynamic balance, with a greater training effect on the non-dominant limb (p≤0.02). Training also improved knee flexor force of the non-dominant lower limb (p=0.02).ConclusionRoutine performance of the FIFA11+ (part 2) program can improve activation of core and lower limb muscles, with a concomitant improvement in dynamic balance.

scholarly journals Corticospinal-evoked responses in lower limb muscles during voluntary contractions at varying strengths

2008 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 1527-1532 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oya ◽  
B. W. Hoffman ◽  
A. G. Cresswell
Keyword(s):  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Medial Gastrocnemius ◽  
Evoked Responses ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

This study investigated corticospinal-evoked responses in lower limb muscles during voluntary contractions at varying strengths. Similar investigations have been made on upper limb muscles, where evoked responses have been shown to increase up to ∼50% of maximal force and then decline. We elicited motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and cervicomedullary motor-evoked potentials (CMEPs) in the soleus (Sol) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles using magnetic stimulation over the motor cortex and cervicomedullary junction during voluntary plantar flexions with the torque ranging from 0 to 100% of a maximal voluntary contraction. Differences between the MEP and CMEP were also investigated to assess whether any changes were occurring at the cortical or spinal levels. In both Sol and MG, MEP and CMEP amplitudes [normalized to maximal M wave (Mmax)] showed an increase, followed by a plateau, over the greater part of the contraction range with responses increasing from ∼0.2 to ∼6% of Mmax for Sol and from ∼0.3 to ∼10% of Mmax for MG. Because both MEPs and CMEPs changed in a similar manner, the observed increase and lack of decrease at high force levels are likely related to underlying changes occurring at the spinal level. The evoked responses in the Sol and MG increase over a greater range of contraction strengths than for upper limb muscles, probably due to differences in the pattern of motor unit recruitment and rate coding for these muscles and the strength of the corticospinal input.

Electromyographic traces of motor unit synchronization of fatigued lower limb muscles during gait

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 102750
Author(s):  
A. Fidalgo-Herrera ◽  
J.C. Miangolarra-Page ◽  
M. Carratalá-Tejada
Keyword(s):  
Motor Unit ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Motor Unit Synchronization

scholarly journals Comparison of muscle activity, strength, and balance, before and after a 6-month training using the FIFA11+ program (part 2)

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 230949901989154
Author(s):  
Takeshi Oshima ◽  
Junsuke Nakase ◽  
Anri Inaki ◽  
Takafumi Mochizuki ◽  
Yasushi Takata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Knee Flexor ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Standardized Uptake Values ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Before And After

Background: Sports injury prevention training programs have been reported to be effective in decreasing the incidence of injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-month training period, using part 2 of the FIFA11+ program (the Fédération Internationale de Football), on the activation and strength of core and lower limb muscles and on static and dynamic balance performance. Study Design: Case series; level of evidence, 4. Methods: Eight college male soccer players, aged mean 20.4 ± 0.5 years old, completed the FIFA11+ program at least three times per week for 6 months. The following variables were measured both before and after the 6-month training program: activities of more than 30 muscles (core and lower limb muscles), measured using the standardized uptake values of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose on positron emission tomography; isokinetic strength of the knee flexor and extensor and hip abductor muscles, measured at 60° s−1; static balance over a 60-s period, measured using a gravicorder; and dynamic balance, measured using the star excursion balance test. Results: Training improved the activity levels of core (obliquus externus abdominis and erector spinae) and lower limb (tibialis anterior) muscles ( p ≤ 0.03), corrected the between-limb difference in the activation of the semimembranosus and improved dynamic balance, with a greater training effect on the nondominant limb ( p ≤ 0.02). Training also improved the knee flexor force of the nondominant lower limb ( p = 0.02). Conclusion: Routine performance of the FIFA11+ program can improve the activation of core and lower limb muscles, with a concomitant improvement in dynamic balance. These improvements could be beneficial in lowering the risk of sports-related injuries.

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