Long-lasting changes in muscle activation and step cycle variables induced by repetitive sensory stimulation to discrete areas of the foot sole during walking

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Nakajima ◽  
Shinya Suzuki ◽  
E. Paul Zehr ◽  
Tomoyoshi Komiyama
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Sensory Stimulation ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Ankle Muscles ◽  
Short Term Adaptation ◽  
Repetitive Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Repetitive Sensory Stimulation ◽  
Foot Sole Stimulation

We examined whether repetitive electrical stimulation to discrete foot sole regions that is phase-locked to the step cycle modulates activity patterns of ankle muscles and induces neuronal adaptation during human walking. Non-noxious repetitive foot sole stimulation (STIM; 67 pulses @333 Hz) was given to the medial forefoot (f-M) or heel (HL) regions at (1) the stance-to-swing transition, (2) swing-to-stance transition, or (3) mid-stance, during every step cycle for 10 min. Stance, but not swing, durations were prolonged f-M STIM delivered at stance-to-swing transition, and these changes remained for up to 20-30 min after the intervention. Electromyographic (EMG) burst durations and amplitudes in the ankle extensors were also prolonged and persisted for 20 min after the intervention. Interestingly, STIM to HL was ineffective at inducing modulation, suggesting stimulation location-specific adaptation. In contrast, STIM to HL (but not f-M), at the swing-to-stance phase transition, shortened the step cycle by premature termination of swing. Furthermore, the onset of EMG bursts in the ankle extensors appeared earlier than in the control condition. STIM delivered during the mid-stance phase was ineffective at modulating the step cycle, highlighting phase-dependent adaptation. These effects were absent when STIM was applied while mimicking static postures for each walking phase during standing. Our findings suggest that the combination of walking-related neuronal activity with repetitive sensory inputs from the foot can generate short-term adaptation that is phase-dependent and localized to the site of STIM.

Hindlimb muscle function in relation to speed and gait:in vivopatterns of strain and activation in a hip and knee extensor of the rat (Rattus norvegicus)

2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (15) ◽  
pp. 2717-2731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary B. Gillis ◽  
Andrew A. Biewener
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Knee Extensor ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Muscle Strain ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Limb Muscles

SUMMARYUnderstanding how animals actually use their muscles during locomotion is an important goal in the fields of locomotor physiology and biomechanics. Active muscles in vivo can shorten, lengthen or remain isometric, and their mechanical performance depends on the relative magnitude and timing of these patterns of fascicle strain and activation. It has recently been suggested that terrestrial animals may conserve metabolic energy during locomotion by minimizing limb extensor muscle strain during stance, when the muscle is active, facilitating more economical force generation and elastic energy recovery from limb muscle–tendon units. However, whereas the ankle extensors of running turkeys and hopping wallabies have been shown to generate force with little length change (<6% strain), similar muscles in cats appear to change length more substantially while active. Because previous work has tended to focus on the mechanical behavior of ankle extensors during animal movements, the actions of more proximal limb muscles are less well understood. To explore further the hypothesis of force economy and isometric behavior of limb muscles during terrestrial locomotion, we measured patterns of electromyographic (EMG) activity and fascicle strain (using sonomicrometry) in two of the largest muscles of the rat hindlimb, the biceps femoris (a hip extensor) and vastus lateralis (a knee extensor) during walking, trotting and galloping. Our results show that the biceps and vastus exhibit largely overlapping bursts of electrical activity during the stance phase of each step cycle in all gaits. During walking and trotting, this activity typically commences shortly before the hindlimb touches the ground, but during galloping the onset of activity depends on whether the limb is trailing (first limb down) or leading (second limb down), particularly in the vastus. In the trailing limb, the timing of the onset of vastus activity is slightly earlier than that observed during walking and trotting, but in the leading limb, this activity begins much later, well after the foot makes ground contact (mean 7% of the step cycle). In both muscles, EMG activity typically ceases approximately two-thirds of the way through the stance phase. While electrically active during stance, biceps fascicles shorten, although the extent of shortening differs significantly among gaits (P<0.01). Total average fascicle shortening strain in the biceps is greater during walking (23±3%) and trotting (27±5%) than during galloping (12±5% and 19±6% in the trailing and leading limbs, respectively). In contrast, vastus fascicles typically lengthen (by 8–16%, depending on gait) over the first half of stance, when the muscle is electrically active, before shortening slightly or remaining nearly isometric over much of the second half of stance. Interestingly, in the leading limb during galloping, vastus fascicles lengthen prior to muscle activation and exhibit substantial shortening (10±2%) during the period when EMG activity is recorded. Thus, patterns of muscle activation and/or muscle strain differ among gaits, between muscles and even within the same muscle of contralateral hindlimbs (as during galloping). In contrast to the minimal strain predicted by the force economy hypothesis, our results suggest that proximal limb muscles in rats operate over substantial length ranges during stance over various speeds and gaits and exhibit complex and changing activation and strain regimes, exemplifying the variable mechanical roles that muscles can play, even during level, steady-speed locomotion.

Ankle extensor proprioceptors contribute to the enhancement of the soleus EMG during the stance phase of human walking

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 610-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J Grey ◽  
Nazarena Mazzaro ◽  
Jens Bo Nielsen ◽  
Thomas Sinkjær
Keyword(s):  
Stretch Reflex ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Short Latency ◽  
Afferent Feedback ◽  
Human Walking ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Local Injections ◽  
Proprioceptive Afferents

A rapid plantar flexion perturbation applied to the ankle during the stance phase of the step cycle during human walking unloads the ankle extensors and produces a marked decline in the soleus EMG. This demonstrates that sensory activity contributes importantly to the enhancement of the ankle extensor muscle activation during human walking. On average, the EMG begins to decline approximately 52 ms after the perturbation. In contrast, a rapid dorsi flex ion perturbation produces a group Ia mediated short-latency stretch reflex burst with an onset latency of approximately 36 ms. The transmission of sensory traffic from the foot and ankle was suppressed in 10 subjects by an anaesthetic nerve block produced with local injections of lidocaine hydrochloride. The anaesthetic block had no effect on the stance phase soleus EMG, the latencies of the EMG responses, or the magnitude of the EMG decline following the plantar flexion perturbation. Therefore, it is more likely that proprioceptive afferents, rather than cutaneous afferents, contribute to the background soleus EMG during the late stance phase of the step cycle. The large difference in onset latencies between the short-latency reflex and unload responses suggests that the largest of the active group Ia afferents might not contribute strongly to the background soleus EMG, although it remains to be determined which of the proprioceptive pathways provide the more important contributions.Key words: afferent feedback, gait, locomotion, stretch reflex.

scholarly journals Ankle Muscle Activations during Different Foot-Strike Patterns in Running

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3422
Author(s):  
Jian-Zhi Lin ◽  
Wen-Yu Chiu ◽  
Wei-Hsun Tai ◽  
Yu-Xiang Hong ◽  
Chung-Yu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Inertial Sensors ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Ankle Muscle ◽  
Foot Strike ◽  
Muscle Activations

This study analysed the landing performance and muscle activity of athletes in forefoot strike (FFS) and rearfoot strike (RFS) patterns. Ten male college participants were asked to perform two foot strikes patterns, each at a running speed of 6 km/h. Three inertial sensors and five EMG sensors as well as one 24 G accelerometer were synchronised to acquire joint kinematics parameters as well as muscle activation, respectively. In both the FFS and RFS patterns, according to the intraclass correlation coefficient, excellent reliability was found for landing performance and muscle activation. Paired t tests indicated significantly higher ankle plantar flexion in the FFS pattern. Moreover, biceps femoris (BF) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) activation increased in the pre-stance phase of the FFS compared with that of RFS. The FFS pattern had significantly decreased tibialis anterior (TA) muscle activity compared with the RFS pattern during the pre-stance phase. The results demonstrated that the ankle strategy focused on controlling the foot strike pattern. The influence of the FFS pattern on muscle activity likely indicates that an athlete can increase both BF and GM muscles activity. Altered landing strategy in cases of FFS pattern may contribute both to the running efficiency and muscle activation of the lower extremity. Therefore, neuromuscular training and education are required to enable activation in dynamic running tasks.

Cyclic AMP Mediates Serotonin-Induced Synaptic Enhancement of Lateral Giant Interneuron of the Crayfish

2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 2644-2652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Araki ◽  
Toshiki Nagayama ◽  
Jordanna Sprayberry
Keyword(s):  
Biogenic Amines ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor ◽  
Sensory Stimulation ◽  
Simultaneous Application ◽  
Camp Analogue ◽  
Repetitive Sensory Stimulation

The lateral giant (LG)-mediated escape behavior of the crayfish habituates readily on repetitive sensory stimulation. Recent studies suggested that the biogenic amines serotonin and octopamine modulate the time course of recovery and/or re-depression of the LG response after habituation. However, little is known of how serotonin and octopamine effect LG habituation and what second-messenger cascades they may activate. To investigate the effect of biogenic amines on LG habituation, serotonin and octopamine were superfused before presenting repetitive sensory stimulation. Serotonin and octopamine increased the number of stimuli needed to habituate the LG response. Their effects were mimicked by mixed application of a cAMP analogue [8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (CPT-cAMP)] and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor [3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)] but not by a cGMP analogue (8-bromoguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate). Perfusion of the adenylate cyclase inhibitor (SQ22536) abolished the effect of serotonin but not that of octopamine. To investigate the site of action of each biogenic amines in the neural circuit meditating LG escape, the effect of drugs on directly and indirectly elicited postsynaptic potentials in LG was investigated. Serotonin, octopamine, and a mixture of CPT-cAMP and IBMX increased both the direct and indirect synaptic inputs. Simultaneous application of SQ22536 abolished the effect of serotonin on both inputs but did not block the effect of octopamine. Direct injection of the cAMP analogue (Sp-isomer of adenosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphorothioate) into LG increased both the direct and indirect inputs to LG. These results indicate that serotonin mediates an increase in cAMP levels in LG, but octopamine acts independently of cAMP and cGMP.

Electrical activity and relative length changes of dog limb muscles as a function of speed and gait

1981 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Goslow ◽  
H. J. Seeherman ◽  
C. R. Taylor ◽  
M. N. McCutchin ◽  
N. C. Heglund
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Activity ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Biceps Brachii ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Relative Length ◽  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Triceps Brachii ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Length Changes

Electrical activity and length changes of 11 muscles of the fore- and hind- limbs of dogs walking, running, and galloping on a treadmill, were measured as a function of forward speed and gait. Our purpose was to find out whether the activity patterns of the major limb muscles were consistent with the two mechanisms proposed for storage and recovery of energy within a stride: a ‘pendulum-like’ mechanism during a walk, and a ‘spring-like’ mechanism during a run. In the stance phase of the walking dog, we found that the supraspinatus, long head of the triceps brachii, biceps brachii, vastus lateralis, and gastrocnemius underwent only minor length changes during a relatively long portion of their activity, Thus, a major part of their activity during the walk seems consistent with a role in stabilization of the joints as the dog ‘pole-vaulted’ over its limbs (and thereby conserved energy). In the stance phase of trotting and/or galloping dogs, we found that the supraspinatus, lateral head of the triceps, vastus lateralis, and gastrocnemius were active while being stretched prior to shortening (as would be required for elastic storage of energy), and that this type of activity increased with increasing speed. We also found muscular activity in the select limb flexors that was consistent with storage of kinetic energy at the end of the swing phase and recovery during the propulsive stroke. This activity pattern was apparent in the latissimus dorsi during a walk and trot, and in the biceps femoris during a trot and gallop. We conclude that, during locomotion, a significant fraction of the electrical activity of a number of limbs muscles occurs while they undergo little or no length change or are being stretched prior to shortening and that these types of activities occur in a manner that would enable the operation of pendulum-like and spring-like mechanisms for conserving energy within a stride. Therefore these forms of muscular activity, in addition to the more familiar activity associated with muscle shortening, should be considered to be important during locomotion.

Retention of Hindlimb Stepping Ability in Adult Spinal Cats After the Cessation of Step Training

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. De Leon ◽  
J. A. Hodgson ◽  
R. R. Roy ◽  
V. R. Edgerton
Keyword(s):  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Full Weight Bearing ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Locomotor Training ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Rapid Learning ◽  
Hindlimb Muscle

de Leon, R. D., J. A. Hodgson, R. R. Roy, and V. R. Edgerton. Retention of hindlimb stepping ability in adult spinal cats after the cessation of step training. J. Neurophysiol. 81: 85–94, 1999. Adult spinal cats were trained to perform bipedal hindlimb locomotion on a treadmill for 6–12 wk. After each animal acquired the ability to step, locomotor training was withheld, and stepping was reexamined 6 and 12 wk after training ended. The performance characteristics, hindlimb muscle electromyographic activity patterns, and kinematic characteristics of the step cycle that were acquired with training were largely maintained when training was withheld for 6 wk. However, after 12 wk without training, locomotor performance declined, i.e., stumbling was more frequent, and the ability to consistently execute full weight-bearing steps at any treadmill speed decreased. In addition, the height that the paw was lifted during the swing phase decreased, and a smaller range of extension in the hindlimbs occurred during the E3 phase of stance. When three of the spinal cats underwent 1 wk of retraining, stepping ability was regained more rapidly than when trained initially. The finding that stepping ability in trained adult spinal cats can persist for 6 wk without training provides further evidence that training-induced enhancement of stepping is learned in the spinal cats and that a memory of the enhanced stepping is stored in the spinal networks. However, it appears that the spinal cord can forget how to consistently execute stepping if that task is not practiced for 12 wk. The more rapid learning that occurred with retraining is also consistent with a learning phenomenon. These results in conjunction with our earlier findings suggest that the efficacy of the neural pathways that execute a motor task is highly dependent on the periodic activation of those pathways in a sequence compatible with that motor task.

scholarly journals Long-lasting impact of starvation experience on fly activity and place preference

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepthi Mahishi ◽  
Tilman Triphan ◽  
Ricarda Hesse ◽  
Wolf Huetteroth
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Petri Dish ◽  
Sensory Stimulation ◽  
Place Preference ◽  
Substrate Layer ◽  
Hunger Motivation ◽  
Internal States ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Integration Strategies

AbstractAnimal behaviours are demonstrably governed by sensory stimulation, previous experience and internal states like hunger. With increasing hunger, priorities shift towards foraging and feeding. During foraging, flies are known to employ efficient path integration strategies. However, general long-term activity patterns for both hungry and satiated flies in conditions of foraging remain to be better understood. Similarly, little is known about how chronic contact chemosensory stimulation affects locomotion. To address these questions, we have developed a novel, simplistic fly activity tracking setup – the Panopticon. Using a 3D-printed Petri dish inset, our assay allows recording of walking behaviour, of several flies in parallel, with all arena surfaces covered by a uniform substrate layer. We tested two constellations of providing food: i) in single patches, and ii) omnipresent within the substrate layer. Fly tracking is done with FIJI, further assessment, analysis and presentation is done with a custom-built MATLAB analysis framework. We find that starvation history leads to a long-lasting reduction in locomotion, as well as a delayed place preference for food patches not driven by immediate hunger motivation.

The EMG-force relationship of the cat soleus muscle and its association with contractile conditions during locomotion.

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (4) ◽  
pp. 975-987 ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Guimaraes ◽  
W Herzog ◽  
T L Allinger ◽  
Y T Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Soleus Muscle ◽  
Adaptive Filtering ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Muscle Length ◽  
Force Transducer ◽  
Shortening Velocity ◽  
Integrated Emg ◽  
Filtering Approach

The relationship between force and electromyographic (EMG) signals of the cat soleus muscle was obtained for three animals during locomotion at five different speeds (154 steps), using implanted EMG electrodes and a force transducer. Experimentally obtained force-IEMG (= integrated EMG) relationships were compared with theoretically predicted instantaneous activation levels calculated by dividing the measured force by the predicted maximal force that the muscle could possibly generate as a function of its instantaneous contractile conditions. In addition, muscular forces were estimated from the corresponding EMG records exclusively using an adaptive filtering approach. Mean force-IEMG relationships were highly non-linear but similar in shape for different cats and different speeds of locomotion. The theoretically predicted activation-time plots typically showed two peaks, as did the IEMG-time plots. The first IEMG peak tended to be higher than the second one and it appeared to be associated with the initial priming of the muscle for force production at paw contact and the peak force observed early during the stance phase. The second IEMG peak appeared to be a burst of high muscle activation, which might have compensated for the levels of muscle length and shortening velocity that were suboptimal during the latter part of the stance phase. Although it was difficult to explain the soleus forces on the basis of the theoretically predicted instantaneous activation levels, it was straightforward to approximate these forces accurately from EMG data using an adaptive filtering approach.

Myotomal slow muscle function of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss during steady swimming.

1998 ◽  
Vol 201 (10) ◽  
pp. 1659-1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Hammond ◽  
J D Altringham ◽  
C S Wardle
Keyword(s):  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Oncorhynchus Mykiss ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
The Body ◽  
Entire Body ◽  
Negative Power ◽  
Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss

Strain and activity patterns were determined during slow steady swimming (tailbeat frequency 1.5-2.5 Hz) at three locations on the body in the slow myotomal muscle of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss using sonomicrometry and electromyography. Strain was independent of tailbeat frequency over the range studied and increased significantly from +/-3.3 % l0 at 0.35BL to +/-6 % at 0.65BL, where l0 is muscle resting length and BL is total body length. Muscle activation occurred significantly later in the strain cycle at 0.35BL (phase shift 59 degrees) than at 0.65BL (30 degrees), and the duration of activity was significantly longer (211 degrees at 0.35BL and 181 degrees at 0.65BL). These results differ from those of previous studies. The results have been used to simulate in vivo activity in isolated muscle preparations using the work loop technique. Preparations from all three locations generated net positive power under in vivo conditions, but the negative power component increased from head to tail. Both kinematically, and in the way its muscle functions to generate hydrodynamic thrust, the rainbow trout appears to be intermediate between anguilliform swimmers such as the eel, which generate thrust along their entire body length, and carangiform fish (e.g. saithe Pollachius virens), which generate thrust primarily at the tail blade.

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