Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to use motor unit coupling in the time and frequency domains to obtain evidence of changes in motoneuronal drive during walking in subjects with stroke. METHODS: Paired tibialis anterior (TA) EMG activity was sampled during the swing phase of treadmill walking in eight subjects with unilateral stroke. RESULTS: On the unaffected side, short-term synchronization was evident from the presence of a narrow central peak in cumulant densities and from the presence of significant coherence between these signals in the 10-25 Hz band. Such indicators of short-term synchrony were either absent or very small on the affected side. Instead, pronounced 10 Hz coupling was observed. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that reduced corticospinal drive to the spinal motoneurones is responsible for the reduced short-term synchrony and coherence in the 10-25 Hz frequency band on the affected side in hemiplegic patients during walking. SIGNIFICANCE: This is of importance for understanding the mechanisms responsible for reduced gait ability and development of new strategies for gait restoration.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.clinph.2008.07.283

Type

Journal article

Journal

Clin Neurophysiol

Publication Date

12/2008

Volume

119

Pages

2813 - 2818

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Electromyography, Exercise Test, Fourier Analysis, Hemiplegia, Humans, Middle Aged, Motor Neurons, Muscle, Skeletal, Stroke, Walking