Effect of the muscle coactivation during quiet standing on dynamic postural control in older adults

Nagai, Koutatsu; Yamada, Minoru; Mori, Shunsuke; Tanaka, Buichi; Uemura, Kazunori; Aoyama, Tomoki; Ichihashi, Noriaki; Tsuboyama, Tadao

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2012.08.009

Cited by 53 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…This segmental distinction could be observed independent of the test-paradigm (ST or SP). According to previous studies [61,63,55], a high muscle co-contraction reflected by simultaneously activated antagonistic muscle groups points towards a rigid articular stiffening of posture, leading to a general mechanical fixation of that specific limb. Due to this kind of joint stiffening, the ability to react precisely and to rapidly modify movement strategies is restricted, which in turn may lead to greater postural sway [55,64].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Specific Stimuli Induce Specific Adaptations: Sensorimotor Training vs. Reactive Balance Training

et al. 2016

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Typically, balance training has been used as an intervention paradigm either as static or as reactive balance training. Possible differences in functional outcomes between the two modalities have not been profoundly studied. The objective of the study was to investigate the specificity of neuromuscular adaptations in response to two balance intervention modalities within test and intervention paradigms containing characteristics of both profiles: classical sensorimotor training (SMT) referring to a static ledger pivoting around the ankle joint vs. reactive balance training (RBT) using externally applied perturbations to deteriorate body equilibrium. Thirty-eight subjects were assigned to either SMT or RBT. Before and after four weeks of intervention training, postural sway and electromyographic activities of shank and thigh muscles were recorded and co-contraction indices (CCI) were calculated. We argue that specificity of training interventions could be transferred into corresponding test settings containing properties of SMT and RBT, respectively. The results revealed that i) postural sway was reduced in both intervention groups in all test paradigms; magnitude of changes and effect sizes differed dependent on the paradigm: when training and paradigm coincided most, effects were augmented (P<0.05). ii) These specificities were accompanied by segmental modulations in the amount of CCI, with a greater reduction within the CCI of thigh muscles after RBT compared to the shank muscles after SMT (P<0.05). The results clearly indicate the relationship between test and intervention specificity in balance performance. Hence, specific training modalities of postural control cause multi-segmental and context-specific adaptations, depending upon the characteristics of the trained postural strategy. In relation to fall prevention, perturbation training could serve as an extension to SMT to include the proximal segment, and thus the control of structures near to the body’s centre of mass, into training.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Specific Stimuli Induce Specific Adaptations: Sensorimotor Training vs. Reactive Balance Training

et al. 2016

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“…Adults suffering from neurological impairment, such as stroke, were shown to have increased duration of muscle co-contraction, most likely as a strategy to improve walking stability [17]. Although co-contraction may be compensatory, excessive levels of co-contraction in older adults may lead to higher energy expenditure during ambulation [6, 7] and further impair physical function and postural control, and increase the risk of falls [12, 25]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have associated co-contraction with postural control during standing, revealing that higher levels of muscle co-contraction have a “deleterious” effect on the regulation of body sway [12]. However, there is a lack of information on lower limb muscle co-contraction during walking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional implications of muscle co-contraction during gait in advanced age

Olson

et al. 2017

Gait & Posture

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Older adults often exhibit high levels of lower extremity muscle co-contraction, which may be the cause or effect of age-related impairments in gait and associated falls. Normal gait requires intact executive function and thus can be slowed by challenging executive resources available to the neuromuscular system through the performance of a dual task. We therefore investigated associations between lower limb co-contraction and gait characteristics under normal and dual task conditions in healthy older adults (85.4±5.9 years). We hypothesized that greater co-contraction is associated with slower gait speed during dual task conditions that stress executive and attentional abilities. Co-contraction was quantified during different phases of the gait cycle using surface electromyography (EMG) signals obtained from the anterior tibialis and lateral gastrocnemius while walking at preferred speed during normal and dual task conditions. Variables included the time difference to complete the Trail Making Test A and B (ΔTMT) and gait measures during normal or dual task walking. Higher co-contraction levels during the swing phase of both normal and dual task walking were associated with longer ΔTMT (normal: R2=0.25, p=0.02; dual task: R2=0.27, p=0.01). Co-contraction was associated with gait measures during dual task walking only; greater co-contraction levels during stride and stance were associated with slower gait speed (stride: R2=0.38, p=0.04; stance: R2=0.38, p=0.04), and greater co-contraction during stride was associated with longer stride time (R2=0.16, p=0.03). Our results suggest that relatively high lower limb co-contraction may explain some of the mobility impairments associated with the conduct of executive tasks in older adults.

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“…However, dorsiflexors also influence postural stability as antagonist muscles. During the bipedal stance, muscle co-activation of the ankle joint increased with age [12,13], and persons with less physical function during postural control tasks showed higher muscle co-activation of the ankle joints [12,20]. Therefore, in some cases, the maintenance of postural stability is accomplished by greater co-activation of antagonists with resultant ankle joint stiffness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Effects of light finger touch to the upper legs on postural sway and muscle activity during quiet standing

Oshita

Yano

2013

2013 35th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC)

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The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of light finger touch (LT) to one's own body on postural sway and ankle muscle activity during quiet standing. In the first part of the present study, 24 healthy men (19 ± 1 years) stood upright with their eyes closed on a pneumatic balance disk under 3 different conditions. In the first condition, the participants kept their hands in loose fists, and contact between the fingers/palms and the legs was avoided. In the second condition, the participants touched the lateral sides of upper legs lightly (without applying force for mechanical support) with all fingers. In the third condition, the participants again held their hands in loose fists. Postural sway was significantly decreased during second condition compared to first condition. Further, it also tended to decrease in third condition (P = 0.08). The second part of the present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the association between postural sway and LT by analyzing electromyographic data. Data were obtained from 12 healthy men (20 ± 1 years). During quiet stance on the stable surface, soleus activity did not significantly change by LT. However, tibialis-anterior activity significantly decreased with LT. These results suggest that LT to the upper part of one's own legs decreases postural sway (during and after touching) during a still stance by decreasing co-activation of the ankle muscles.

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Effect of the muscle coactivation during quiet standing on dynamic postural control in older adults

Cited by 53 publications

References 27 publications

Specific Stimuli Induce Specific Adaptations: Sensorimotor Training vs. Reactive Balance Training

Specific Stimuli Induce Specific Adaptations: Sensorimotor Training vs. Reactive Balance Training

Functional implications of muscle co-contraction during gait in advanced age

Effects of light finger touch to the upper legs on postural sway and muscle activity during quiet standing

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