Publication
Title
Trunk muscle activity during walking in persons with multiple sclerosis : the influence of body weight support
Author
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the trunk is important for maintaining balance during walking only very limited information about the trunk muscle activity during walking with body weight support (BWS) is reported in literature. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to measure the effect of BWS on the trunk muscle activity during treadmill walking. METHODS: 14 persons with multiple sclerosis and 14 healthy persons walked on a treadmill with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50% and 70% BWS. Bilateral EMG measurements (surface electrodes) on the m. rectus abdominis, m. obliquus externus, m. erector spinae and m. multifidus were performed. The maximal muscle activation was presented as a percentage of a performance related reference contraction. A repeated measures ANOVA with simple contrasts was applied (SPSS20). RESULTS: In general when comparing walking with BWS with walking with 0% BWS there is an increase in m. obliquus externus activity and a decrease in back muscle activity. With increasing percentages of BWS an increase in activity of the abdominal muscles and a decrease in back muscle activity was found, with most changes in high percentages BWS. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, it is recommended to decrease the percentage BWS as fast as possible beneath 30% BWS.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Neurorehabilitation. - Reading, Mass.
Publication
Reading, Mass. : 2014
ISSN
1053-8135
DOI
10.3233/NRE-131044
Volume/pages
34 :2 (2014) , p. 323-335
ISI
000335326300014
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 06.06.2014
Last edited 24.02.2023
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