Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (48)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by BOURBONNAIS, D.
Right arrow Articles by RYMER, W. Z.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by BOURBONNAIS, D.
Right arrow Articles by RYMER, W. Z.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Brain, Vol. 112, No. 1, 85-102, 1989
© 1989 Oxford University Press

research-article

ABNORMAL SPATIAL PATTERNS OF ELBOW MUSCLE ACTIVATION IN HEMIPARETIC HUMAN SUBJECTS

DANIEL BOURBONNAIS, SHARYN VANDEN NOVEN, KATHLEEN M. CAREY and WILLIAM Z. RYMER

Sensory-Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University Medical School Chicago, Illinois, USA

Correspondence to: Correspondence to: Dr W. Z Rymer, Department of Physiology, Ward 5–295, Northwestern University Medical School, 303 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA

The patterns of electromyographic (EMG) activity in spastic-paretic and contralateral elbow muscles of 10 hemiparetic human subjects were compared during a sequence of graded voluntary isometric contractions against 4 different-sized loads These loads were orientated successively at 8 different angles over a 360° range, referenced to a plane at the wrist orthogonal to the long axis of the forearm Comparisons of EMG activity recorded from normal and paretic limbs revealed that there were marked differences in the torque angles which evoked significant EMG activity, in the angular range of EMG, in the angle of peak EMG, and in the scaling of EMG magnitude with increasing isometric loads. In severely impaired limbs, there was a marked shift in both the peak EMG angle and the angular domain of EMG activity for both biceps and triceps muscle groups, away from the normal elbow flexion-extension axis towards external humeral rotation and shoulder girdle elevation. The extent of the disturbance in the spatial patterns of EMG activity was closely correlated with the clinical severity of the spastic-paretic disability, which was quantified using a functional scale patterned after that described by Fugl Meyer etal (1975). The observed patterns of EMG activity in paretic flexor muscles do not conform with established synergistic patterns, such as might be released by excitation of the flexor reflex in a normal limb. Possible origins for the anomalous EMG patterns are discussed.

Received September 22, 1987. Revised March 1, 1988. Accepted March 11, 1988.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
G. Torres-Oviedo, J. M. Macpherson, and L. H. Ting
Muscle Synergy Organization Is Robust Across a Variety of Postural Perturbations
J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2006; 96(3): 1530 - 1546.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
P. H. McCrea, J. J. Eng, and A. J. Hodgson
Saturated Muscle Activation Contributes to Compensatory Reaching Strategies After Stroke
J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2005; 94(5): 2999 - 3008.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Clin RehabilHome page
C Mercier, A M Bertrand, and D Bourbonnais
Comparison of strength measurements under single-joint and multi-joint conditions in hemiparetic individuals
Clinical Rehabilitation, May 1, 2005; 19(5): 523 - 530.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
C. E. Lang and M. H. Schieber
Reduced Muscle Selectivity During Individuated Finger Movements in Humans After Damage to the Motor Cortex or Corticospinal Tract
J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2004; 91(4): 1722 - 1733.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 StrokeHome page
S. M. Michaelsen, A. Luta, A. Roby-Brami, and M. F. Levin
Effect of Trunk Restraint on the Recovery of Reaching Movements in Hemiparetic Patients
Stroke, August 1, 2001; 32(8): 1875 - 1883.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.