Fatigability of the thenar muscles using electrical nerve stimulation with fixed stimuli count, while varying the frequency and duty cycle.

Our aim was to compare three electrical stimulation protocols (P20, P30 and P40), with the same number of stimuli, but different stimulation frequencies (20, 30 and 40 Hz, respectively) and duty cycles [1.2:1.2 s (continuous), 0.8:1.2 s (intermittent) and 0.6:1.2 s (intermittent), respectively). Twitch force and the peak-to-peak M-wave amplitude of the thenar muscles were measured before, during and after each protocol at 1-40 Hz in random order. Twelve healthy adults (23-41 years old) were examined for each protocol in random order and in separate sessions. P20 elicited the highest mean force, and P40 the lowest decrease in percent force at the end of the protocol. Force evoked at 1 and 10 Hz decreased less after P40, compared with P20 and P30. The M-wave amplitude was significantly reduced throughout all protocols, with the largest decrease observed during P30. Although an increase in frequency typically induced earlier and greater decrement in force, this was compensated or even reversed by increasing the interval between each stimulation train, while keeping the number of pulses per stimulation cycle constant. The lesser decrease in M-wave amplitude during P40 compared with P20 indicates that longer between-train intervals may help maintaining the integrity of neuromuscular propagation.

Does somatosensory feedback from the plantar foot sole contribute to verticality perception?

AIM OF THE STUDY: In upright standing, the human foot sole is the only point of contact with the ground conveying information about the pressure distribution under the feet. We examined how the altered somatosensory input from the plantar foot receptors, when standing on a soft surface, affects the subjective estimation of the earth vertical in different sensory contexts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve (12) healthy young females (mean age: 21.8 ± 2.4 years) adjusted the orientation of a visual line (35 × 1.5 cm) representing the roll orientation of a hand-held (attached on a 24.9 × 4 cm cylinder) or head-attached electromagnetic tracking sensor (Nest of Birds, Ascension Technologies Inc., VT. USA, 60 Hz) under two visual conditions (eyes open, eyes closed) while standing on a soft or firm surface. The mean absolute (accuracy) and variable (precision) error in the verticality estimate was depicted in the sensor's roll deviation from the gravitational vertical. RESULTS: The accuracy and the precision of the estimate decreased in the absence of vision, while standing on the soft surface and when the estimate was provided by an active hand rather than head rotation. The surface effect was significant only in the absence of vision and when the estimate was provided by the hand. CONCLUSIONS: The contribution of the plantar foot mechanoreceptors to gravity perception is sensory context dependent. Perception of the earth vertical is more accurate when estimated by active head rotation due to the integration of the vestibular and neck proprioceptive afferents.

Posture and gaze tracking of a vertically moving target reveals age-related constraints in visuo-motor coupling.

Previously we have demonstrated that the effect of aging on posture and gaze active tracking of a visual target moving in the horizontal direction is dependent on target's complexity. In this study, we asked whether a similar phenomenon is present when tracking a visual target moving with varying complexity in the vertical direction. Ten young (22.98±2.9years) and 10 older adults (72.45±4.72years) tracked for 120s, a visual target moving vertically by shifting their bodyweight in the anterior-posterior direction. Three target motions were tested: a simple periodic (sine wave), a more complex (Lorenz attractor) and an ultra-complex random (Surrogated Lorenz attractor) pattern. Cross-spectral analysis revealed lower sway-target coherence as a function of age, regardless of target motion's complexity. This age effect was significant for the sway-target gain but not for the phase index. Gaze-target analysis revealed age related differences only when tracking the more complex targets. Regardless of age, tracking of the complex target was associated with lower cross Approximate Entropy. It is concluded that tracking of visual targets oscillating in the vertical direction reveals age related constraints that are independent of visual motion's complexity. These constraints are evident in the spatial and not temporal aspects of visuo-motor coupling, which suggests the presence of neuromuscular deficiencies in controlling visually guided postural sway in the anterior-posterior direction.

Aging affects postural tracking of complex visual motion cues.

Postural tracking of visual motion cues improves perception-action coupling in aging, yet the nature of the visual cues to be tracked is critical for the efficacy of such a paradigm. We investigated how well healthy older (72.45 ± 4.72 years) and young (22.98 ± 2.9 years) adults can follow with their gaze and posture horizontally moving visual target cues of different degree of complexity. Participants tracked continuously for 120 s the motion of a visual target (dot) that oscillated in three different patterns: a simple periodic (simulated by a sine), a more complex (simulated by the Lorenz attractor that is deterministic displaying mathematical chaos) and an ultra-complex random (simulated by surrogating the Lorenz attractor) pattern. The degree of coupling between performance (posture and gaze) and the target motion was quantified in the spectral coherence, gain, phase and cross-approximate entropy (cross-ApEn) between signals. Sway-target coherence decreased as a function of target complexity and was lower for the older compared to the young participants when tracking the chaotic target. On the other hand, gaze-target coherence was not affected by either target complexity or age. Yet, a lower cross-ApEn value when tracking the chaotic stimulus motion revealed a more synchronous gaze-target relationship for both age groups. Results suggest limitations in online visuo-motor processing of complex motion cues and a less efficient exploitation of the body sway dynamics with age. Complex visual motion cues may provide a suitable training stimulus to improve visuo-motor integration and restore sway variability in older adults.

Elderly adults delay proprioceptive reweighting during the anticipation of collision avoidance when standing.

The ability to reweight visual and proprioceptive information is critical for maintaining postural stability in a dynamic environment. In this study, we examined whether visual anticipation of collision avoidance (AV) while standing could facilitate the down-weighting of altered proprioception in young and elderly adults. Twelve young (24.91±6.44years) and 12 elderly (74.8±6.42years) participants stood upright for 180s under two task conditions: (a) quiet stance (QS) and (b) standing while anticipating virtual objects to be avoided. In order to disrupt the accuracy of proprioceptive input participants were exposed to bilateral Achilles tendon vibration during the middle 60s of standing in both tasks. Visual field dependence was assessed using the Rod and Frame Test (RFT). Elderly demonstrated significantly higher visual field dependence compared to the young participants. Analysis of the normalized Root Mean Square (RMS) of the Center of Pressure velocity (dCoP) revealed that young participants immediately reduced the sway velocity variability induced by tendon vibration during the anticipation of collision AV compared to the QS task. In the elderly, however, the modulating influence of visual anticipation was delayed and became significant only in the last two time intervals of the vibration phase. These results suggest that volitionally shifting reliance on vision when anticipating a collision AV event facilitates the down-weighting of altered proprioception. Elderly adults seem to be unable to dynamically exploit visual anticipation in order to down weight the altered proprioception possibly as a result of their more permanent up-weighting of the visual modality. Sensory reweighting seems to be a more time consuming process in aging which may have important clinical implications for falling.

Tendon vibration during submaximal isometric strength and postural tasks.

To establish the effect of tendon vibration (TV) on steady submaximal strength and static balance control, 29 women performed isometric plantarflexions at 10, 20, 30 and 50% of MVC and postural tasks of increasing difficulty (Normal Quiet Stance, NQS, Sharpened Tandem Stance and One Leg Stance) with vibrators (80 Hz) applied to the Achilles tendon. Both tasks were performed under four conditions (10 s each): eyes open, eyes closed, eyes closed with TV, eyes open with TV. During the isometric tasks, the application of TV increased the plantarflexion torque at 20 and 30% of MVC, accompanied by a greater (p < 0.001) activation of agonists (Medial Gastrocnemius, MGAS and Soleus, SOL), as well as a greater (p < 0.05) coactivation of the antagonist (tibialis anterior, TA). Non-significant differences were observed at 10 and 50% of MVC. During posture, TV resulted in a backward displacement of the Centre of Pressure only for NQS and an increase (p < 0.01) in EMG activity of the ankle muscles in all balance tasks. The MGAS contraction during TV application was confirmed (by ultrasonography) at ten participants by an increase of the pennation angle and decrease of its fascicle length (p < 0.05). The vibration-induced muscle excitation and accompanying increase in motor output, probably due to excitatory Ia afferent input, was confirmed during strength and postural tasks. However, motor output attenuates when the magnitude of central drive to the ankle muscles increases.

Visual feedback training improves postural adjustments associated with moving obstacle avoidance in elderly women.

The study examined the impact of visually guided weight shifting (WS) practice on the postural adjustments evoked by elderly women when avoiding collision with a moving obstacle while standing. Fifty-six healthy elderly women (70.9+/-5.7 years, 87.5+/-9.6 kg) were randomly assigned into one of three groups: a group that completed 12 sessions (25 min, 3s/week) of WS practice in the Anterior/Posterior direction (A/P group, n=20), a group that performed the same practice in the medio/lateral direction (M/L group, n=20) and a control group (n=16). Pre- and post-training, participants were tested in a moving obstacle avoidance task. As a result of practice, postural response onset shifted closer to the time of collision with the obstacle. Side-to-side WS resulted in a reduction of the M/L sway amplitude and an increase of the trunk's velocity during avoidance. It is concluded that visually guided WS practice enhances elderly's ability for on-line visuo-motor processing when avoiding collision eliminating reliance on anticipatory scaling. Specifying the direction of WS seems to be critical for optimizing the transfer of training adaptations.

Static balance improvement in elderly after dorsiflexors electrostimulation training.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of dorsiflexors' ElectroStimulation (ES) training, on postural tasks of increasing difficulty in the elderly. Twenty-one elderly adults were randomly assigned into one of two groups: a Training (TG) and a Control Group (CG). The TG (n = 10) performed (4 weeks, 4 s/week, 40 min/session) superimposed (electrically evoked and voluntary activation) isometric dorsiflexions (ankle 100 degrees ) while seated. Biphasic, rectangular symmetrical pulses (300 ms, 70 Hz, 20-60 mA) were used to provoke maximal muscle activation. Participants performed three static balance tasks (Normal Quiet Stance, Sharpened Romberg, and One-Legged Stance) during which postural sway was quantified using maximum range and standard deviation of Centre of Pressure displacement (Kistler 9281C, 1,000 Hz). Bipolar surface electrodes were used to record the Electromyographic activity (EMG) of Tibialis Anterior, Medial Gastrocnemius, Rectus Femoris and Semi-Tendineous. Two-dimensional kinematic data were collected (60 Hz) and analyzed using the APAS Motion Analysis software. The body was modeled as a five-segment rigid link system. Isometric dorsiflexion moment/angular position relationship was also established using a Cybex dynamometer. ES training resulted in decreased postural sway (P < 0.05), greater ankle muscles EMG activity (P < 0.001), greater stability of the ankle joint (P < 0.05) and significant changes in mean position of all three joints of the lower limb. In addition, dorsiflexion moment significantly (P < 0.001) increased as a result of ES training. It is concluded that dorsiflexors' ES training, could reduce postural sway and the use of ankle muscles, more characteristic of young adults, might appear in the elderly as well.

Role of perceptual and motor abilities in instep-kicking performance of young soccer players.

The present study made a dynamic analysis of the ground reaction forces developed on the supporting foot during instep kicking to investigate the relation between specific perceptual and motor abilities and the performance of this skill. 45 young soccer players (11-13 years of age) participated in a series of laboratory tests assessing simple, choice, and discrimination reaction time, sustained attention, depth perception, and sense of kinesthesis. Kicking performance measured by the amount of impulse (calculated as the integral of force) developed on the supporting foot during kicking. There was a significant correlation of the kicking impulse with choice reaction time (r = -.54) and attention reaction time (r = -.41). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that choice reaction time accounted for 29% of the variation in the anterior/posterior kicking impulse and 16.4% of the variation in the medio/lateral kicking impulse. The significant relation between kicking impulse and measures concerning speed of information processing suggests that processes associated with fast response selection may play an important role in instep-kicking performance. These findings can provide useful information for designing of training schemes and testing protocols.

Perceptual-motor contributions to static and dynamic balance control in children.

The authors addressed balance control in children from the perspective of skill development and examined the relationship between specific perceptual and motor skills and static and dynamic balance performance. Fifty 11- to 13-year-old children performed a series of 1-legged balance tasks while standing on a force platform. Postural control was reflected in the maximum displacement of the center of mass in anterior-posterior and mediolateral directions. Simple visual, discrimination, and choice reaction times; sustained attention; visuomotor coordination; kinesthesis; and depth perception were also assessed in a series of perceptual and motor tests. The correlation analysis revealed that balancing under static conditions was strongly associated with the ability to perceive and process visual information, which is important for feedback-based control of balance. On the other hand, when greater task demands were imposed on the system under dynamic balancing conditions, the ability to respond to the destabilizing hip abductions-adductions in order to maintain equilibrium was associated with motor response speed, suggesting the use of a descending, feedforward control strategy. Therefore, like adults, 11- to 13-year-old children have the ability to select varying balance strategies (feedback, feedforward, or both), depending on the constraints of a particular task.

Effect of single-limb inertial loading on bilateral reaching: interlimb interactions.

This study employed the paradigm of asymmetric limb loading during bilateral arm reaching to examine the motor system's ability to independently organize the discrete movement of both upper limbs to equidistant targets when one of the limbs is loaded under specific timing constraints. The loading procedure involved attaching two different Velcro strapped weights to the right wrist, thus increasing the right arm's mass by 25% (1 kg) and 50% (2 kg). Movements were captured by a high-speed digital camera (240 Hz), while electromyographic (EMG) activity of selected elbow and shoulder muscles of both limbs was recorded (1,000 Hz) simultaneously. The results revealed that the mechanisms used by the system to compensate for unilateral limb loading were as follows: First, addition of an inertial load resulted in an increased movement time and concomitant decrease in peak velocity of both the upper arm and forearm of only the loaded limb and was scaled to the added weight. Second, for the EMG parameters, adjustments to the inertial load were primarily characterized by an increase in burst duration of all muscles, with load-specific changes in activity and onset time: the elbow antagonist (biceps) demonstrated a decrease in activity with the 50% load, and the elbow agonist (triceps) had an earlier onset with the 25% load. Concomitant adjustments on the unloaded limb consisted primarily of an increase in burst duration of the shoulder and elbow agonists (pectoralis and triceps), an earlier triceps onset solely with the 25% load, and a decrease in activity of the biceps solely with the 50% load. Third, with the exception of biceps activity, the amplitude of EMG activity was invariant across changes in load for both the loaded and unloaded limb. This lack of modulation in activity may have been related to the inability of performers to meet the time constraint of simultaneous bilateral limb arrival to the end targets. This inability can be the result of an active strategy selection process to safeguard the actions against interference or alternatively it could simply be a consequence of the biomechanical properties of the system in relation to task constraints. These issues are discussed in the light of the present findings and those of previous studies.

Bilateral reaching to asymmetrical targets: muscle and joint dynamic interlimb adaptations.

A combined analysis of time, electromyographic, and joint torque measures was used to explore the force control processes underlying the dissociation of arm reaching movements performed bilaterally to targets of varying amplitude. Limb movements appeared closely coupled at movement initiation, which was confirmed by a strong tendency of the agonist muscles to remain synchronized despite any interlimb asymmetry in final target distance. On the other hand, interlimb decoupling occurred later as a result of the difference in the antagonists' timing of activation between the limbs. The partitioning of the net joint torque revealed that muscle activity is regulated in response to the intersegmental dynamics of the limb. It is proposed that spatial decoupling of asymmetrical movements becomes possible through postinitiation feedback processes which regulate muscle recruitment phenomena.

Dynamic joint analysis as a method to document coordination disabilities associated with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to introduce dynamic joint analysis and subsequent phase partitioning of the movement pattern as a method for investigating the force control deficits associated with Parkinson's disease. DESIGN: Pilot data were collected from four non-impaired individuals and four patients afflicted with Parkinson's disease while performing arm movements of different spatiotemporal features. BACKGROUND: Investigation of motor performance in Parkinson's patients has related the clinically observed symptoms to the ability to control muscular force. METHODS: Experimental movements were filmed using a high speed camera operating at 200 Hz. The mechanical power characteristics of the elbow and shoulder were determined by applying inverse dynamic solutions to the kinematic data. Movement was reflected in a series of goal-directed phases describing the functional role of muscle activity across the joint. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that Parkinson's disease impairs the ability of the muscles to produce the energy required for performing ballistic, segmental movements. Moreover, patients demonstrated greater difficulty in controlling a two-joint task as opposed to a single-joint one; this was reflected by additional phases of activity at the elbow. CONCLUSIONS: Slowness of movement is associated with the inappropriate scaling of the muscle force, as well as with the limited use of motion-dependent forces in accelerating distal segment movement.