Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology
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J Electromyogr Kinesiol · Feb 2014
Controlled Clinical TrialAltered flexion-relaxation responses exist during asymmetric trunk flexion movements among persons with unilateral lower-limb amputation.
Repetitive exposures to altered gait and movement following lower-limb amputation (LLA) have been suggested to contribute to observed alterations in passive tissue properties and neuromuscular control in/surrounding the lumbar spine. These alterations, in turn, may affect the synergy between passive and active tissues during trunk movements. Eight males with unilateral LLA and eight non-amputation controls completed quasi-static trunk flexion-extension movements in seven distinct conditions of rotation in the transverse plane: 0° (sagittally-symmetric), ±15°, ±30°, and ±45° (sagittally-asymmetric). ⋯ Persons with unilateral LLA exhibited altered and asymmetric synergies between active and passive trunk tissues during both sagittally-symmetric and -asymmetric trunk flexion movements. Specifically, decreased and asymmetric passive contributions to trunk movements were compensated with increases in the magnitude and duration of active trunk muscle responses. Such alterations in trunk passive and active neuromuscular responses may result from repetitive exposures to abnormal gait and movement subsequent to LLA, and may increase the risk for LBP in this population.
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J Electromyogr Kinesiol · Feb 2014
Clinical TrialDifferences in scapular kinematics and scapulohumeral rhythm during elevation and lowering of the arm between typical children and healthy adults.
Scapular kinematics in healthy adults is well described in the literature but little is known on typical children. This study aimed to compare the three-dimensional (3-D) scapular kinematics and scapulohumeral rhythm during the elevation and lowering of the arm in the scapular plane in typical children and healthy adults. Twenty-six healthy adults (35.34±11.65 years, 1.70±0.10m, 70.00±12.30kg) and 33 typical children (9.12±1.51 years, 1.40±0.10m, 35.40±10.45kg) participated in this study. 3-D scapular kinematics were obtained using an electromagnetic tracking device. ⋯ It was also found a low to little correlation between scapular position and age. The study showed small but significant differences in scapular kinematics and scapulohumeral rhythm between children and adults. These results can help clinicians to improve diagnosis and treatment protocols directed to children with dysfunction, as reference values on scapular kinematics in healthy children are also provided in this study.