Low multiscale entropy of ankle joint position during toe gait in children with cerebral palsy is related to contracture development.

Background: Toe walking in children with cerebral palsy is typically less stable and less energy-efficient than plantigrade walking in typically developing children. We hypothesized that children with cerebral palsy may, nevertheless, show more stable toe walking due to the development of contractures compared to age-matched typically developing children.

Methods: Multiscale entropy of the vertical position of the ankle joint was used to measure ankle joint stability during the stance phase of walking.

Generation and modification of human locomotor EMG activity when walking faster and carrying additional weight.

In activities of daily living, people walk at different speeds with or without carrying additional loads. In this study, we sought to examine how human adults manage these commonly encountered additional demands during walking. We measured electromyography (EMG), triceps surae H-reflexes, joint motion and ground reaction forces (GRF) while participants walked at 1.

Contribution of sensory feedback to soleus muscle activity during voluntary contraction in humans.

Sensory feedback through spinal interneurons contributes to plantar flexor muscle activity during walking, but it is unknown whether this is also the case during nonlocomotor movements. Here, we explored the effect of temporary reduction of sensory feedback to ankle plantar flexors during voluntary contraction in sitting subjects. Thirteen healthy adults (mean age 32 yr) were seated with the right leg attached to a foot plate which could be moved in dorsi- or plantarflexion direction by a computer-controlled motor.

Can Operant Conditioning of EMG-Evoked Responses Help to Target Corticospinal Plasticity for Improving Motor Function in People With Multiple Sclerosis?

Corticospinal pathway and its function are essential in motor control and motor rehabilitation. Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes damage to the brain and descending connections, and often diminishes corticospinal function. In people with MS, neural plasticity is available, although it does not necessarily remain stable over the course of disease progress.