Exaggerated interlimb neural coupling following stroke. Brain 2007 Jan;130(Pt 1):159-69
Date
10/05/2006Pubmed ID
17018550DOI
10.1093/brain/awl278Scopus ID
2-s2.0-33845890799 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 61 CitationsAbstract
The patterns of interlimb coupling were examined in 10 stroke survivors with chronic hand impairment. In particular, the potential roles of postural state and motor tasks in promoting the flexed posture of the upper extremity were assessed. Through the use of electromyography analysis, joint angle measurements and a novel biomechanical apparatus to perturb the digits of the hand into extension, measurements of muscle activity and joint position were compared during multiple postural states, locomotion and voluntary muscle activity. The results demonstrated a significant increase in flexion of the digits (P < 0.001) and elbow (P < 0.005), during walking as compared with standing, sitting or laying supine. These results were indicative of an overall excessive activation coupling between the upper and lower extremities after stroke. Indeed both voluntary finger flexion and voluntary leg extension produced significant activity in the other impaired extremity, leg and arm, respectively, in the stroke as compared with the control subjects. Thus, rectus femoris in the impaired leg was active during finger flexion of the impaired hand in the stroke survivors and all four tested muscles in the impaired arm were active during extension of the legs (P < 0.05). These findings suggest an interlimb coupling related to active motor tasks, contributing to an upper extremity flexion bias following stroke.
Author List
Kline TL, Schmit BD, Kamper DGAuthor
Brian Schmit PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Marquette UniversityMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAged
Aged, 80 and over
Arm
Biomechanical Phenomena
Electromyography
Female
Fingers
Humans
Joints
Leg
Locomotion
Male
Middle Aged
Movement
Muscle Contraction
Muscle, Skeletal
Paresis
Posture
Quadriceps Muscle
Spinal Nerves
Stroke
Supine Position
Walking
