Abstract:The study assessed the effect of velocity of arm movement on the generation of APAs in the contralateral and ipsilateral muscles of individuals with stroke in the sitting position. In the sitting position, 10 healthy and 8 post-stroke subjects reached for an object placed at the scapular plane and mid-sternum height at self-selected and fast velocities. Electromyography was recorded from the anterior deltoid (AD), upper (UT) and lower trapezius (LT), and latissimus dorsi (LD). Kinematic analysis was used to assess peak velocity and trunk displacement. Post-stroke subjects presented a delay of APAs on both sides of the body compared to healthy subjects. Differences were found between the timing of APAs on the ipsilateral and contralateral LD and LT in both movement speeds and in the ipsilateral UT during movement of the non-affected arm at a self-selected velocity. A delay in the contralateral LD in the reaching movement with the non-affected arm at fast velocity was also observed. Trunk displacement was greater in post-stroke subjects. In the sitting position, APAs were delayed in both fast and selfselected movements on both sides in post-stroke subjects, which also presented a higher trunk displacement.

The aim of this study was to explore the force irradiation effects of upper limb isometric diagonal exercises on shoulder muscle activities. Interactions among diagonal directions, contraction intensities (moderate and maximum) and sex were assessed. Thirty healthy subjects (11 males) performed isometric unilateral diagonal exercises based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique in an isokinetic dynamometer with their dominant upper limbs. The second diagonal for flexion and for extension were assessed while the participants performed their maximum isometric torque (MIT) and at 25% of their MIT. During the exercise the muscle activity of the medial deltoid, pectoralis major and upper trapezius in the non-dominant (non-exercised) upper limbs of the participants was recorded by surface electromyography. The highest muscle activity occurred in the upper trapezius during the diagonal for flexion (27% of maximum isometric voluntary contractions). Upper trapezius and pectoralis major were more active during the diagonal for flexion than diagonal for extension (p < 0.001), while similar values between both diagonals were observed for the medial deltoid (p > 0.05). In conclusion, we observed that force irradiation during upper limb diagonal exercises is affected by diagonal direction, contraction intensity and sex when performed by healthy participants.

After a stroke in middle cerebral artery territory, there is a high probability of dysfunction of the ventromedial pathways, mainly related with postural control mechanisms such as the anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). According to neuroanatomical knowledge, these pathways have a predominant ipsilesional disposition, which justifies a bilateral postural control dysfunction, often neglected in rehabilitation. In order to assess this bilateral postural control dysfunction, electromyography activity was assessed in eight post-stroke and 10 healthy individuals in the anterior deltoids, the superior and lower trapezius, and the latissimus dorsi as they reached for a bottle with both upper limbs separately at a self-selected velocity and fast velocity while standing associated with trunk kinematics analysis. Through this analysis it was possible to compare the timing of APAs in scapular muscles between sides in post-stroke and with healthy individuals, and to verify if there is a relation between the timing and the displacement of the trunk in the temporal window of the APAs. Indeed, post-stroke individuals show a delayed activation of APAs on scapular girdle muscles on both ipsilesional and contralesional sides, which were not reflected in the trunk displacement.

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