Surface electromyography to identify top-down modulation in complete chronic spinal cord injury.

Background: Complete spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by permanent loss of nerve impulse propagation through the injury level leading to complete loss of voluntary muscle contraction. However, clinically undetectable top-down modulation of lower limbs might be present and can be evidenced using surface electromyography (sEMG).

Case Report: A subject with complete chronic SCI and no spasticity presents voluntary modulation of sEMG signal during a task-specific activity associated with sensory input.

Robotic assisted gait as a tool for rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by a total or partial deficit of sensory and motor pathways. Impairments of this injury compromise muscle recruitment and motor planning, thus reducing functional capacity. SCI patients commonly present psychological, intestinal, urinary, osteomioarticular, tegumentary, cardiorespiratory and neural alterations that aggravate in chronic phase.

Is there influence of the load addition during treadmill training on cardiovascular parameters and gait performance in patients with stroke? A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Although exercises involving both lower limbs are indicated for aerobic training, stroke patients have shown expressive asymmetry between the paretic and non-paretic lower limb (NPLL). Performing activities that stimulate the paretic limb during aerobic exercise may optimize training results.

Objective: To evaluate if there is influence of load addition on NPLL during treadmill training on cardiovascular parameters and gait performance of subacute stroke patients.