Overflow of Muscle Activation by Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Standing Position: A Cross-Sectional Electromyographic Investigation in Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Background Although in several studies has been observed the principle of overflow of muscle activation, no one explored if this principle occurs in a standing position. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and the condition of the overflow from upper limb migrating to inferior contralateral supported limb in standing position in healthy subjects.Methods Cross-sectional study with one sample. Eleven healthy individuals with a mean age of 22 (± 5.6) years were evaluated during 5 tasks applying the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation in left side 1) rest, 2) active diagonal primitive3) isotonic resistive diagonal primitive, 4) isometric resistive diagonal primitive, 5) active primitive diagonal with active extension of the right lower limb. The right side was monitored by electromyography activity of the tibial anterior, soleus, vastus medial oblique, rectus abdominis, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, adductor longus muscles.Results Results showed a difference between tasks for soleus muscle (p < 0.001), with higher clinical relevance (d = 0.87), and the task with diagonal primitive against isotonic resistance produced more electromyography activity (p < 0.001). For all muscles there was a clinical relevance (d > 0.55). Conclusion The approach used in this study could improve the condition of distal muscles, mainly soleus, facilitating the acquisition of a standing position as soon as possible.