The effect of task symmetry on bimanual reach-to-grasp movements after cervical spinal cord injury

Britten, Laura; Coats, Rachel O.; Ichiyama, Ronaldo M.; Raza, Wajid; Jamil, Firas; Astill, Sarah

doi:10.1007/s00221-018-5354-8

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Another noteworthy application is the study of compensatory movement strategies, which can be accompanied by the development of new muscle synergies [ 68 – 72 ]. Studies have commonly focused on these issues in the context of locomotion [ 3 , 27 , 34 , 35 , 73 – 98 ], while fewer studies focused on reach-to-grasp [ 99 – 107 ], and posture and balance [ 108 – 112 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Properties of the surface electromyogram following traumatic spinal cord injury: a scoping review

Balbinot

Wiest

et al. 2021

J NeuroEngineering Rehabil

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Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts spinal and supraspinal pathways, and this process is reflected in changes in surface electromyography (sEMG). sEMG is an informative complement to current clinical testing and can capture the residual motor command in great detail—including in muscles below the level of injury with seemingly absent motor activities. In this comprehensive review, we sought to describe how the sEMG properties are changed after SCI. We conducted a systematic literature search followed by a narrative review focusing on sEMG analysis techniques and signal properties post-SCI. We found that early reports were mostly focused on the qualitative analysis of sEMG patterns and evolved to semi-quantitative scores and a more detailed amplitude-based quantification. Nonetheless, recent studies are still constrained to an amplitude-based analysis of the sEMG, and there are opportunities to more broadly characterize the time- and frequency-domain properties of the signal as well as to take fuller advantage of high-density EMG techniques. We recommend the incorporation of a broader range of signal properties into the neurophysiological assessment post-SCI and the development of a greater understanding of the relation between these sEMG properties and underlying physiology. Enhanced sEMG analysis could contribute to a more complete description of the effects of SCI on upper and lower motor neuron function and their interactions, and also assist in understanding the mechanisms of change following neuromodulation or exercise therapy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Properties of the surface electromyogram following traumatic spinal cord injury: a scoping review

Balbinot

Wiest

et al. 2021

J NeuroEngineering Rehabil

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“…Finally, the visual control of bimanual movements is critical to normal everyday functioning and a major challenge for people who have impairments affecting their limb movements and/or vision. While previous studies have carefully investigated bimanual reaching movements in a range of different disorders, such as stroke (Jackson et al 2000;Punt et al 2005aPunt et al , 2005b), Parkinson's Disease (Castiello and Bennett 1997;Alberts et al 1998), and spinal cord injury (Britten et al 2018), we are not aware of any previous clinial studies that have investigated related visual control (i.e., eye movements) in these populations. Examining the visual control of bimanual movements in these populations, using approaches such as the one reported here would be informative and potentially allow coherent planning of rehabilitation strategies.…”

Section: Other Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overt visual attention and between-limb asynchrony for bimanual reaching movements

et al. 2023

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Although synchrony between the limbs is an often-cited feature of bimanual coordination, recent studies have also highlighted the small asynchronies that can occur. The visuo-motor demands of any bimanual task are considered central to the emergence of asynchrony, but the relationship between the two remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to address this issue. Hand and eye movements were measured in 19 participants, while they made either unimanual or bimanual reach-to-point (aiming) movements to targets presented on a touchscreen. Bimanual movements were either congruent (same-sized targets) or incongruent (different-sized targets). Resulting hand data showed many of the typical patterns of movement previously reported. While temporal coupling between the limbs remained largely evident for bimanual movements, small between-limb asynchronies were apparent and demonstrated clear associations with the competing precision requirements of the targets and related visual attention. Participants mainly directed their gaze towards the more difficult target with corresponding reaching movements demonstrating greater precision than for the easier target. Additionally, there was a reliable tendency for the hand reaching towards the more difficult target to lead. Importantly, it was the competing visuo-motor demands of individual movements rather than overall difficulty that resulted in greater between-limb asynchrony; accordingly, where both targets were small (i.e., the most difficult condition), asynchrony was significantly less pronounced than for incongruent bimanual conditions. The results show how the visuo-motor system balances its apparent drive for synchrony in coordinating bimanual movements with the competing demands that characterise the constituent unimanual movements.

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“…The ability to coordinate the movement of both arms is essential to perform several activities of daily living [1], [2]. Despite this and the recent increase of interest in bilateral training programs [3], there is still limited information regarding the impact of a cSCI on bilateral upper limb neuromotor strategies [4], [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As for cSCI, a number of studies have adopted these techniques to objectively assess unilateral upper limb motor functions after the lesion [14], but little attention has been paid in using these technologies to comprehensively assess how cSCI affects the neuromotor abilities to perform coordinated bilateral movements. Studies by Britten et al [5], [15] have investigated the kinematic strategies adopted by cSCI individuals with incomplete lesions during coordinated reachto-grasp actions using a motion capture system. These studies found that these individuals retain a level of bilateral control.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies found that these individuals retain a level of bilateral control. However, to the best of our knowledge, few studies have investigated the muscle activity of cSCI survivors when performing coordinated movements with both arms [4], [5], and no studies have adopted the most recent and advanced muscle analysis techniques, i.e. muscle synergies [16] and spinal maps [17], to investigate the effects that a cervical lesion has on the muscle coordination patterns and on the overall muscle spatiotemporal organization during these types of movements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Clinical, Kinematic and Muscle Assessment of Bilateral Coordinated Upper-Limb Movements Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Bellitto,

De Luca,

Gamba

et al. 2023

IEEE Trans. Neural Syst. Rehabil. Eng.

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Cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) often results in bilateral impairment of the arms, leading to difficulties in performing daily activities. However, little is known about the neuromotor alterations that affect the ability of individuals with cSCI to perform coordinated movements with both arms. To address this issue, we developed and tested a functional assessment that integrates clinical, kinematic, and muscle activity measures, including the evaluation of bilateral arm movements. Twelve subjects with a C5-C7 spinal lesion and six unimpaired subjects underwent an evaluation that included three tests: the Manual Muscle Test, Range Of Motion test and Arm stabilisation test, a subsection of the "Van Lieshout arm/hand function test". During the latter, we recorded kinematic and muscle activity data from the upper-body during the execution of a set of movements that required participants to stabilize both arms against gravity at different configurations. Analytical methods, including muscle synergies, spinal maps, and Principal Component Analysis, were used to analyse the data. Clinical tests detected limitations in shoulder abduction-flexion of cSCI participants and alterations in elbows-wrists motor function. The instrumented assessment provided insight into how these limitations impacted the ability of cSCI participants to perform bilateral movements. They exhibited severe difficulty in performing movements involving over-the-shoulder motion and shoulder internal rotation due to altered patterns of activity of the scapular stabilizer muscles, latissimus dorsi, pectoralis, and triceps. Our findings shed light on the bilateral neuromotor changes that occur post-cSCI addressing not only motor deficits but also the underlying abnormal, weak, or silent muscle activations.

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The effect of task symmetry on bimanual reach-to-grasp movements after cervical spinal cord injury

Cited by 3 publications

References 55 publications

Properties of the surface electromyogram following traumatic spinal cord injury: a scoping review

Properties of the surface electromyogram following traumatic spinal cord injury: a scoping review

Overt visual attention and between-limb asynchrony for bimanual reaching movements

Clinical, Kinematic and Muscle Assessment of Bilateral Coordinated Upper-Limb Movements Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

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