Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill Walking
Arm swing is an inherent aspect of human locomotion that enhances lower limb (LL) muscle activation, which may explain its benefits for stroke rehabilitation over fixed-arm approaches. This study analyzed how restricting arm movement affects LL muscle coordination by comparing treadmill walking with...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Teresa Rodríguez-Millán Clara B. Sanz-Morère Agnese Cherubini Rocío Urrutia Filipe Oliveira Barroso José L. Pons Jesús Tornero |
| author_facet | Teresa Rodríguez-Millán Clara B. Sanz-Morère Agnese Cherubini Rocío Urrutia Filipe Oliveira Barroso José L. Pons Jesús Tornero |
| author_sort | Teresa Rodríguez-Millán |
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| description | Arm swing is an inherent aspect of human locomotion that enhances lower limb (LL) muscle activation, which may explain its benefits for stroke rehabilitation over fixed-arm approaches. This study analyzed how restricting arm movement affects LL muscle coordination by comparing treadmill walking with arms (WWA) and walking with no arms (WNA) through muscle synergy analysis. Surface electromyography was recorded from eight LL muscles in ten healthy participants. Significant differences were found in muscle activity envelopes at 50% of the gait cycle (GC) for the Gluteus Medius, 0% and 100% GC for the Vastus Lateralis and Semitendinosus, and 25% GC for the Semitendinosus, Gastrocnemius Medialis, and Soleus. The Rectus Femoris and Vastus Lateralis showed higher variability and activation in WNA compared to WWA. Synergy analysis revealed four muscle synergies, with a median global variance of 95%. While spatial components were similar, temporal differences emerged at 0% GC for Synergy 1, 5% and 90% GC for Synergy 2, and 95% GC for Synergy 3 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Our results suggest that arm swing influences LL muscle activity and coordination during walking. Future studies will aim at understanding the effects of arm swing in stroke rehabilitation, which could help design more effective gait rehabilitation protocols including arm swing. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-f4746da82be24a61baf9b77c6469a1972025-01-10T13:14:45ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-12-0115119210.3390/app15010192Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill WalkingTeresa Rodríguez-Millán0Clara B. Sanz-Morère1Agnese Cherubini2Rocío Urrutia3Filipe Oliveira Barroso4José L. Pons5Jesús Tornero6Center for Clinical Neuroscience-HLM, Hospital Los Madroños, 28690 Madrid, SpainBioRobotics Group, Center for Automation and Robotics, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28500 Arganda del Rey, Madrid, SpainCenter for Clinical Neuroscience-HLM, Hospital Los Madroños, 28690 Madrid, SpainCenter for Clinical Neuroscience-HLM, Hospital Los Madroños, 28690 Madrid, SpainNeural Engineering Lab, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, SpainLegs and Walking Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (Formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), Chicago, IL 60611, USACenter for Clinical Neuroscience-HLM, Hospital Los Madroños, 28690 Madrid, SpainArm swing is an inherent aspect of human locomotion that enhances lower limb (LL) muscle activation, which may explain its benefits for stroke rehabilitation over fixed-arm approaches. This study analyzed how restricting arm movement affects LL muscle coordination by comparing treadmill walking with arms (WWA) and walking with no arms (WNA) through muscle synergy analysis. Surface electromyography was recorded from eight LL muscles in ten healthy participants. Significant differences were found in muscle activity envelopes at 50% of the gait cycle (GC) for the Gluteus Medius, 0% and 100% GC for the Vastus Lateralis and Semitendinosus, and 25% GC for the Semitendinosus, Gastrocnemius Medialis, and Soleus. The Rectus Femoris and Vastus Lateralis showed higher variability and activation in WNA compared to WWA. Synergy analysis revealed four muscle synergies, with a median global variance of 95%. While spatial components were similar, temporal differences emerged at 0% GC for Synergy 1, 5% and 90% GC for Synergy 2, and 95% GC for Synergy 3 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Our results suggest that arm swing influences LL muscle activity and coordination during walking. Future studies will aim at understanding the effects of arm swing in stroke rehabilitation, which could help design more effective gait rehabilitation protocols including arm swing.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/192arm swingelectromyographymuscle coordinationmuscle synergieswalking |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Rodríguez-Millán Clara B. Sanz-Morère Agnese Cherubini Rocío Urrutia Filipe Oliveira Barroso José L. Pons Jesús Tornero Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill Walking Applied Sciences arm swing electromyography muscle coordination muscle synergies walking |
| title | Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill Walking |
| title_full | Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill Walking |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill Walking |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill Walking |
| title_short | Effects of Arm Swing in Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Coordination During Treadmill Walking |
| title_sort | effects of arm swing in lower limb muscle activation and coordination during treadmill walking |
| topic | arm swing electromyography muscle coordination muscle synergies walking |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/192 |
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