Lower Limb Muscle Activation Times of Stroke Patients  Who Failed the Sit-to-Stand Task

This study was aimed at investigating the changes in the degree of weight support loaded on the cane and paretic-side lower limb muscle activation according to the types of cane and cane-supported gait using a weight-support feedback cane (WSFC). Eleven hemiparetic stroke patients were recruited from a local rehabilitation hospital. WSFC can measure the degree of weight support loaded on the cane during cane-supported walking in units of kg, through a force sensor installed inside the handle. This study measured the degree of weight support loaded on the cane and lower limb muscle activation under four conditions: two-point and three-point gait with mono and quadripod canes. In the two-point gait with mono and quadripod canes, subjects were asked to move the WSFC and paretic-side foot forward at the same time and then move the nonparetic-side foot. In the three-point gait with mono and quadripod canes, subjects were asked to first move the WSFC forward, then the paretic-side foot, and finally the nonparetic-side foot. The degree of weight support loaded on the cane was significantly higher in the three-point gait with WSFC than in the two-point gait with WSFC for both mono (P=.047) and quadripod canes (P=.002). Additionally, the paretic-side lower limb muscle activation during the stance phase was significantly higher in the two-point gait with WSFC than in the three-point gait with WSFC for both mono (P=.008~.044) and quadripod canes (P=.008~.026). Our results suggest that applying the three-point gait with high cane dependence in the early stages of training for stability and subsequently applying the two-point gait for the enhancement of lower limb muscle activation and training of normal gait pattern could be effective.

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Changes in lower limb muscle activation and gait function according to cane dependence in chronic stroke patients

Technology and Health Care ◽

10.3233/thc-192075 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Young Sic Kang ◽

Ki Hun Cho

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Chronic Stroke ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Gait Function

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Lower Limb Muscle Activation During the Sit-to-Stand Task in Subjects Who Have Had a Stroke

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation ◽

10.1097/phm.0b013e318282c87a ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 92 (8) ◽

pp. 666-675 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Cecília Prudente ◽

Fátima Rodrigues-de-Paula ◽

Christina D.C.M. Faria

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Sit To Stand

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Effects of Dominant and Nondominant Limb Immobilization on Muscle Activation and Physical Demand during Ambulation with Axillary Crutches

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology ◽

10.3390/jfmk6010016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 16

Author(s):

Kara B. Bellenfant ◽

Gracie L. Robbins ◽

Rebecca R. Rogers ◽

Thomas J. Kopec ◽

Christopher G. Ballmann

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Weight Bearing ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Bipedal Walking ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Physical Demand ◽

Limb Dominance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of how limb dominance and joint immobilization alter markers of physical demand and muscle activation during ambulation with axillary crutches. In a crossover, counterbalanced study design, physically active females completed ambulation trials with three conditions: (1) bipedal walking (BW), (2) axillary crutch ambulation with their dominant limb (DOM), and (3) axillary crutch ambulation with their nondominant limb (NDOM). During the axillary crutch ambulation conditions, the non-weight-bearing knee joint was immobilized at a 30-degree flexion angle with a postoperative knee stabilizer. For each trial/condition, participants ambulated at 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 mph for five minutes at each speed. Heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored throughout. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to record muscle activation of the medial gastrocnemius (MG), soleus (SOL), and tibialis anterior (TA) unilaterally on the weight-bearing limb. Biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii (TB) sEMG were measured bilaterally. sEMG signals for each immobilization condition were normalized to corresponding values for BW.HR (p < 0.001) and RPE (p < 0.001) were significantly higher for both the DOM and NDOM conditions compared to BW but no differences existed between the DOM and NDOM conditions (p > 0.05). No differences in lower limb muscle activation were noted for any muscles between the DOM and NDOM conditions (p > 0.05). Regardless of condition, BB activation ipsilateral to the ambulating limb was significantly lower during 0.6 mph (p = 0.005) and 0.8 mph (p = 0.016) compared to the same speeds for BB on the contralateral side. Contralateral TB activation was significantly higher during 0.6 mph compared to 0.8 mph (p = 0.009) and 1.0 mph (p = 0.029) irrespective of condition. In conclusion, limb dominance appears to not alter lower limb muscle activation and walking intensity while using axillary crutches. However, upper limb muscle activation was asymmetrical during axillary crutch use and largely dependent on speed. These results suggest that functional asymmetry may exist in upper limbs but not lower limbs during assistive device supported ambulation.

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