Faculty Collaboration Database

Kinematic and Neuromuscular Adaptations in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury after High- versus Low-Intensity Locomotor Training. J Neurotrauma 2019 Jun 15;36(12):2036-2044

Date

10/27/2018

Pubmed ID

30362878

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6599383

DOI

10.1089/neu.2018.5900

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85066821717 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   11 Citations

Abstract

Recent data demonstrate improved locomotion with high-intensity locomotor training (LT) in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), although concerns remain regarding reinforcement of abnormal motor strategies. The present study evaluated the effects of LT intensity on kinematic and neuromuscular coordination in individuals with iSCI. Using a randomized, crossover design, participants with iSCI received up to 20 sessions of high-intensity LT, with attempts to achieve 70-85% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (HRmax), or low-intensity LT (50-65% HRmax), following which the other intervention was performed. Specific measures included spatiotemporal variables, sagittal-plane gait kinematics, and neuromuscular synergies from electromyographic (EMG) recordings. Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between variables. Significant improvements in sagittal-plane joint excursions and intralimb hip-knee coordination were observed following high- but not low-intensity LT when comparing peak treadmill (TM) speed before and after LT. Neuromuscular complexity (i.e., number of synergies to explain >90% of EMG variance) was also increased following high- but not low-intensity LT. Comparison of speed-matched trials confirmed significant improvements in the knee excursion of the less impaired limb and intralimb hip-knee coordination, as well as improvements in neuromuscular complexity following high-intensity LT. These findings suggest greater neuromuscular complexity may be due to LT and not necessarily differences in speeds. Only selected kinematic changes (i.e., weak hip excursion) was correlated to improvements in treadmill speed. In conclusion, LT intensity can facilitate gains in kinematic variables and neuromuscular synergies in individuals with iSCI.

Author List

Ardestani MM, Henderson CE, Salehi SH, Mahtani GB, Schmit BD, Hornby TG

Author

Brian Schmit PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adaptation, Physiological
Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cross-Over Studies
Double-Blind Method
Female
Humans
Locomotion
Male
Middle Aged
Neuromuscular Junction
Physical Conditioning, Human
Physical Therapy Modalities
Pilot Projects
Spinal Cord Injuries