Article

AIM: To combine peak torque and EMG analyses to investigate the hypothesis that
1) children with cerebral palsy (CP) have lower muscle fatigability than
typically developing children (TD) and whether 2) muscle fatigue correlates with
muscle strength. METHODS: Seven CP children, eight TD children and ten young
healthy adults (YHA) performed an all-out fatigue test of 35 maximal concentric
knee extension and flexion contractions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Angular
velocity was set at 60 degrees /s. Peak torque (PT) was determined per repetition
and either normalized to bodyweight or maximum voluntary torque. Surface-EMG of
quadriceps and hamstring muscles was measured to obtain changes in median
frequency (EMG-mf) and smooth rectified EMG amplitude per contraction. RESULTS:
Decline in PT differed between all groups for extensors and flexors, where YHA
showed the largest decline and CP children the smallest decline over the course
of the test. YHA showed a larger decline in EMG-mf of all quadriceps and
hamstrings than TD and CP children, while TD children showed a larger decline in
EMG-mf of m.rectus femoris and m.vastus lateralis than CP children.
INTERPRETATION: Results confirm that children with CP show lower fatigability
than TD children and that the lower fatigability coincides with lower maximal
muscle strength.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS