Muscle activation profile is modulated by unexpected balance loss in walking.
EMG
Muscle fiber type
Perturbations
Walking
Journal
Gait & posture
ISSN: 1879-2219
Titre abrégé: Gait Posture
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9416830
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
03 2022
03 2022
Historique:
received:
29
09
2021
revised:
30
12
2021
accepted:
16
01
2022
pubmed:
30
1
2022
medline:
3
5
2022
entrez:
29
1
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
During an unexpected loss of balance, avoiding a fall requires people to readjust their footing rapidly and effectively. A deeper understanding of muscle activation patterns in response to unexpected balance loss will provide insights into the mechanisms of balance recovery responses. This could have implications for treatment of people with balance deficits. Explore the differences in balance recovery responses to perturbations in different phases of the gait cycle (single-support vs. double-support) in terms of biomechanical behavior (i.e., stepping and dynamic stability characteristics) and lower-limb muscle activation patterns. Muscle activation patterns of the ankle and knee muscles and muscle fiber type recruitment resulting from unannounced, mediolateral (i.e., right/left) horizontal-surface perturbations during walking was investigated in twenty healthy adults (27.00 ± 2.79 years, ten females). Surface electromyography (sEMG) total spectral power for specific frequency bands (40-60 Hz, 60-150 Hz, 150-250 Hz, 250-400 Hz and 400-1000 Hz), from tibialis anterior (TA) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles were analyzed. Three mixed-effects models assessed behavioral and lower-limb muscle activation patterns resulting from perturbations in the gait cycle's single- and double-support phases. Statistical significance was set a priori at p < 0.05. Compared to non-perturbed walking, we found a significant increase in the total spectral power of lower-extremity muscles during the first three seconds after perturbation. During the double-support phase of gait, we found a different muscle fiber type recruitment pattern between VL and TA muscles. However, there were no significant differences between VL and TA muscles for perturbations implemented in single-support phases. Our findings support the notion that muscle operating frequency is modulated in real-time to fit functional goal requirements, such as a rapid change of footing in response to unexpected loss of balance in single and double-support phases of gait.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
During an unexpected loss of balance, avoiding a fall requires people to readjust their footing rapidly and effectively. A deeper understanding of muscle activation patterns in response to unexpected balance loss will provide insights into the mechanisms of balance recovery responses. This could have implications for treatment of people with balance deficits.
RESEARCH QUESTION
Explore the differences in balance recovery responses to perturbations in different phases of the gait cycle (single-support vs. double-support) in terms of biomechanical behavior (i.e., stepping and dynamic stability characteristics) and lower-limb muscle activation patterns.
METHODS
Muscle activation patterns of the ankle and knee muscles and muscle fiber type recruitment resulting from unannounced, mediolateral (i.e., right/left) horizontal-surface perturbations during walking was investigated in twenty healthy adults (27.00 ± 2.79 years, ten females). Surface electromyography (sEMG) total spectral power for specific frequency bands (40-60 Hz, 60-150 Hz, 150-250 Hz, 250-400 Hz and 400-1000 Hz), from tibialis anterior (TA) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles were analyzed. Three mixed-effects models assessed behavioral and lower-limb muscle activation patterns resulting from perturbations in the gait cycle's single- and double-support phases. Statistical significance was set a priori at p < 0.05.
RESULTS
Compared to non-perturbed walking, we found a significant increase in the total spectral power of lower-extremity muscles during the first three seconds after perturbation. During the double-support phase of gait, we found a different muscle fiber type recruitment pattern between VL and TA muscles. However, there were no significant differences between VL and TA muscles for perturbations implemented in single-support phases.
SIGNIFICANCE
Our findings support the notion that muscle operating frequency is modulated in real-time to fit functional goal requirements, such as a rapid change of footing in response to unexpected loss of balance in single and double-support phases of gait.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35091185
pii: S0966-6362(22)00013-3
doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.01.013
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
64-72Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.