1. Effects of body orientation on maximum voluntary arm torques.
- Author
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Krainak DM, Ellis MD, Bury K, Churchill S, Pavlovics E, Pearson L, Shah M, and Dewald JP
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Electromyography methods, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Photic Stimulation methods, Psychomotor Performance physiology, Range of Motion, Articular physiology, Young Adult, Arm physiology, Movement physiology, Orientation physiology, Stroke physiopathology, Torque
- Abstract
Introduction: Increased reliance on bulbospinal motor systems has been implicated in individuals with chronic stroke during maximum voluntary arm joint torque generation., Methods: Maximum isometric single-joint and multi-joint arm strength was observed in two body orientations (sitting and supine) while maintaining identical head/neck/trunk/extremity joint configurations in order to identify bulbospinal contributions to maximum joint torque generation in 11 individuals with stroke and 10 individuals without stroke., Results: During sitting, shoulder flexion was greater for both groups, whereas shoulder extension and elbow flexion, part of the "flexion synergy," were greater only in individuals with stroke., Conclusions: Body orientation influenced isometric arm strength, notably the constituents of flexion synergy in individuals with stroke, suggesting bulbospinal motor pathway involvement. From a practical perspective, clinical evaluation of single joint strength in the supine position may underestimate strength available during activities of daily living that are performed in an upright orientation., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2011
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