Reciprocal Inhibition and Coactivation of Ankle Muscles in Low- and High-Velocity Forward and Backward Perturbations.

Reciprocal inhibition and coactivation are strategies of the central nervous system used to perform various daily tasks. In automatic postural responses (APR), coactivation is widely investigated in the ankle joint muscles, however reciprocal inhibition, although clear in manipulative motor actions, has not been investigated in the context of APRs. The aim was to identify whether reciprocal inhibition can be observed as a strategy in the recruitment of gastrocnemius Medialis (GM), Soleus (So) and Tibialis Anterior (TA) muscles in low- and high-velocity forward and backward perturbations.

Control of center of mass during gait of stroke patients: Statistical parametric mapping analysis.

Background: The control of the center of mass is essential for a stable and efficient gait. Post-stroke patients present several impairments, which may compromise the control of the center of mass during gait in the sagittal and frontal planes. This study aimed to identify changes in the vertical and mediolateral behavior of the center of mass during the single stance phase of post-stroke patients using the statistical parametric mapping analysis.

Strategies Adopted by Stroke Patients to Maintain Balance in Dynamic Tasks in a Video Game.

Postural instability affects motor tasks after a stroke. We investigated the strategies used to maintain balance during quiet standing posture and dynamic tasks in a video game. Sixteen stroke volunteers (12 males, 56 ± 9 years, post-stroke time 35 ± 10 months) and sixteen matched healthy volunteers had their biomechanical data collected to obtain the variables: center of mass, base of support, margin of stability, and weight symmetry.

Time profile of kinematic synergies of stroke gait.

Background: In stroke subjects, the motor skills differ between sides and among subjects with different levels of motor recovery, impacting inter-joint coordination. How these factors can affect the kinematic synergies over time during gait has not been investigated yet. This work aimed to determine the time profile of kinematic synergies of stroke patients throughout the single support phase of gait.

Effects of the radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) on motor disorders: An integrative review.

Introduction: The radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) is a technology that has the purpose of restoring the cellular polarity triggering the rebalancing of the endogenous bioelectric field, which considering the neurological dysfunctions, affects the neural communication mechanisms. The studies published so far show that the REAC neuromodulation technology has positive effects in treating these dysfunctions, with the principles of endogenous bioelectricity as a basis to achieve these effects.

Objectives: This study aims to review the literature that explored the effects of REAC protocols on motor control and to identify which mechanisms would be involved.

Does thenumber of stepsneededfor UCM gait analysisdiffers between healthy and stroke?

The basis for the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) approach is the variability among repetitions of a motor task. Thus, reliable results might be influenced by the number of trials. This study estimated the number of steps needed for UCM analysis of stroke gait and if it is the same for healthy subjects.

Center of mass in analysis of dynamic stability during gait following stroke: A systematic review.

Background: The Center of mass (CoM) analysis reveals important aspects of gait dynamic stability of stroke patients, but the variety of methods and measures represents a challenge for planning new studies.

Research Question: How have the CoM measures been calculated and employed to investigate gait stability after a stroke? Three issues were addressed: (i) the methodological aspects of the calculation of CoM measures; (ii) the purposes and (iii) the conclusions of the studies on gait stability that employed those measures.

Methods: PubMed and Science Direct databases have been searched to collect original articles produced until July 2017.

Influence of feet position on COP measures in post-stroke patients in quiet standing.

Background: Foot placement is an important methodological parameter in experiments for analyzing the behavior of the center of pressure (CoP) duringquiet standing. In the case of stroke patients, this is a relevant issue, as the standardized position, usually adopted is not ecological.

Reseach Question: Do between-limb synchronization, weight-bearing symmetry, and amplitude of the postural sway of post-stroke individuals differ between standardized and comfortable foot positions during quiet standing?

Methods: A total of 36 volunteers (20 with stroke and 16 healthy) stood barefoot, for 60 s, on two force plates with feet in a comfortable and standardized position (14° of external rotation and heels 17 cm apart).

Reliability and Minimum Detectable Change of the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) in post-stroke patients.

The Gait Deviation Index (GDI) is a summary measure that provides a global picture of gait kinematic data. Since the ability to walk is critical for post-stroke patients, the aim of this study was to determine the reliability and Minimum Detectable Change (MDC) of the GDI in this patient population. Twenty post-stroke patients (11 males, 9 females; mean age, 55.

Reliability and minimum detectable change of the gait profile score for post-stroke patients.

The objectives of this work were (i) to determine Gait Profile Score (GPS) for hemiparetic stroke patients, (ii) to evaluate its reliability within and between sessions, and (iii) to establish its minimal detectable change (MDC). Seventeen hemiparetic patients (mean age 54.9±10.

Immediate effects of a high-velocity spine manipulation in paraspinal muscles activity of nonspecific chronic low-back pain subjects.

High-velocity spinal manipulation is commonly adopted for treating chronic low-back pain (CLBP) and has been associated with changes in muscle activity, but the evidence is controversial. The aim of this study was to analyse the immediate effects of high-velocity spine manipulation on paraspinal activity during flexion-extension trunk movements. Forty nonspecific CLBP patients were randomised into two groups, manipulation (n = 20) and control (n = 20).