Background

There is insufficient information on muscle co-activation in the upper limbs to help healthcare providers develop treatment programs for patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP).

Research question

Is the degree of muscle co-activation greater in adults with DCP than in healthy individuals? Does the use of different arm weights modify co-contraction in individuals with PCD?

Methods

Fourteen healthy individuals (control group [CG]) and 14 individuals with DCP (dyskinetic group [DG]) participated in the study. The degree of muscle co-activation of the dominant limb during drinking from a mug was compared between the two groups. The task was divided into a going, adjusting, and returning phase. In the DG, an analysis was also performed on using an arm weight during the functional task. The loads corresponded to 10, 20, and 30 % of maximum isometric muscle strength measured in each participant.

Results

In comparing the two groups, the DG exhibited a greater muscle co-activation in the shoulder and elbow muscles during the going phase, the shoulder, elbow, and wrist during the adjusting phase; and the elbow during the returning phase. The DG also showed a greater mean index of curvature (MIC), time to perform the movement phases, and lesser mean velocity (Vm) to drinking. In analyzing the DG's arm weight, no effect on co-activation, MIC, time to perform the movement phases, and Vm to drinking were found with the loads tested (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Muscle co-activation is increased in adults with DCP in comparison to healthy individuals. Moreover, arm weight during the functional activity of drinking from a mug did not alter co-activation, although an immediate effect was expected.

中文翻译：

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不同负荷的即时效应不会改变运动障碍性脑瘫青年人上肢的肌肉共激活

背景

关于上肢肌肉共激活的信息不足以帮助医疗保健提供者为运动障碍性脑瘫 (DCP) 患者制定治疗计划。

研究问题

DCP 成人的肌肉共激活程度是否大于健康人？使用不同的手臂重量是否会改变 PCD 患者的共同收缩？

方法

14 名健康个体（对照组 [CG]）和 14 名患有 DCP 的个体（运动障碍组 [DG]）参与了这项研究。比较两组在从杯子里喝水期间优势肢体的肌肉共激活程度。任务分为去、调、回三个阶段。在 DG 中，还对在功能任务期间使用手臂重量进行了分析。负荷对应于每个参与者测量的最大等长肌肉力量的 10%、20% 和 30%。

结果

两组比较中，DG在前进阶段的肩部和肘部肌肉，以及在调整阶段的肩部、肘部和腕部的肌肉协同激活程度更高；和肘部在返回阶段。DG 还显示出更大的平均曲率指数 (MIC)、执行运动阶段的时间以及更小的饮酒平均速度 (Vm)。在分析 DG 的手臂重量时，发现测试负载对共激活、MIC、执行运动阶段的时间和饮用 Vm 没有影响（p > 0.05）。

结论

与健康个体相比，患有 DCP 的成年人的肌肉共激活增加。此外，从杯子喝水的功能活动期间的手臂重量不会改变共激活，尽管预计会产生立竿见影的效果。