Muscle activation patterns in infants with myelomeningocele stepping on a treadmill. Pediatr Phys Ther 2013;25(3):278-89
Date
05/21/2013Pubmed ID
23685739Pubmed Central ID
PMC3706031DOI
10.1097/PEP.0b013e31828dc3b6Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84879926292 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 3 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: To characterize how infants with myelomeningocele (MMC) activate lower limb muscles over the first year of life, without practice, while stepping on a motorized treadmill.
METHODS: Twelve infants with MMC were tested longitudinally at 1, 6, and 12 months. Electromyography was used to collect data from the tibialis anterior, lateral gastrocnemius, rectus femoris, biceps femoris.
RESULTS: Across the first year, infants showed no electromyographic activity for approximately 50% of the stride cycle with poor rhythmicity and timing of muscles, when activated. Single muscle activation predominated; agonist-antagonist coactivation was low. Probability of individual muscle activity across the stride decreased with age.
CONCLUSIONS: Infants with MMC show high variability in timing and duration of muscle activity, few complex combinations, and very little change over time.
Author List
Sansom JK, Teulier C, Smith BA, Moerchen V, Muraszko K, Ulrich BDAuthor
Victoria Moerchen BA,BS,MS,PhD Assistant Professor in the Human Movement Sciences department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
ElectromyographyFemale
Foot
Humans
Infant
Leg
Male
Meningomyelocele
Muscle, Skeletal
Walking
