RehabMove 2018: THE EFFECTS OF ASYMMETRICAL GUIDANCE SETTINGS DURING LOKOMAT GUIDED GAIT IN STROKE PATIENTS
| Main Authors: | Weiland, S., Reinders-Messelink, H.A., Boonstra, A.M., Van der Woude, L.H.V., Den Otter, A.R. |
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| Format: | Proceeding |
| Bahasa: | eng |
| Terbitan: |
, 2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/1482804 |
Daftar Isi:
- PURPOSE: The Lokomat, a robotic exoskeleton, offers the possibility to train asymmetrically and to study the neuromuscular linkage between the legs. A previous study in healthy young participants (Weiland et al., 2018) showed that ipsilateral muscle activity can be influenced by asymmetrical guidance settings: (1) ipsilateral muscle activity increased when contralateral guidance was lowered and (2) ipsilateral muscle activity decreased when contralateral guidance increased. By providing asymmetrical guidance during Lokomat therapy in stroke patients, the capacity of the unaffected leg might be utilized to evoke a higher muscular output in the affected leg. To test this idea, we examined the effects of asymmetric movement guidance on gait related muscle activity in hemiplegic stroke patients. METHODS: Ten chronic hemiplegic stroke patients walked in the Lokomat, while guidance to the legs was offered symmetrically (both legs received 30% or 100%) or asymmetrically (one leg receiving 30% and the other leg 100%). Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from Biceps Femoris, Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Medial Gastrocnemius and Tibialis Anterior. Group averaged EMG levels were compared between conditions. RESULTS: The amount of muscle activity of the affected leg depended on the level of guidance offered to the unaffected leg. Muscle activity (Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Medial Gastrocnemius and Tibialis Anterior) of the affected leg increased when guidance to the unaffected leg was lowered. Conversely, muscle activity of the affected leg decreased when more guidance was offered to the unaffected leg. CONCLUSION: This study shows that muscle activity of the affected leg of stroke patients can be influenced by contralateral guidance levels. The observed effects demonstrate the existence of interlimb transfers and give evidence for a neuromuscular linkage between the legs in hemiplegic stroke patients.