Passive activity enhances residual control ability in patients with complete spinal cord injury.

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health, Medknow Country of Publication: India NLM ID: 101316351 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1673-5374 (Print) Linking ISSN: 16735374 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Neural Regen Res Subsets: PubMed not MEDLINE

Publication: 2013 - : Mumbai : Wolters Kluwer Health, Medknow
Original Publication: Shenyang : Editorial Board of Neural Regeneration Research

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202508000-00024/figure1/v/2024-09-30T120553Z/r/image-tiff Patients with complete spinal cord injury retain the potential for volitional muscle activity in muscles located below the spinal injury level. However, because of prolonged inactivity, initial attempts to activate these muscles may not effectively engage any of the remaining neurons in the descending pathway. A previous study unexpectedly found that a brief clinical round of passive activity significantly increased volitional muscle activation, as measured by surface electromyography. In this study, we further explored the effect of passive activity on surface electromyographic signals during volitional control tasks among individuals with complete spinal cord injury. Eleven patients with chronic complete thoracic spinal cord injury were recruited. Surface electromyography data from eight major leg muscles were acquired and compared before and after the passive activity protocol. The results indicated that the passive activity led to an increased number of activated volitional muscles and an increased frequency of activation. Although the cumulative root mean square of surface electromyography amplitude for volitional control of movement showed a slight increase after passive activity, the difference was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that brief passive activity may enhance the ability to initiate volitional muscle activity during surface electromyography tasks and underscore the potential of passive activity for improving residual motor control among patients with motor complete spinal cord injury.
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Date Created: 20241003 Latest Revision: 20241003

20241003

10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-01812

39359092