Article

OBJECTIVES: To determine the optimal testing speed at
which the recovery of the EMG (electromyographic) activity should be assessed
during and after body weight supported (BWS) locomotor training. SETTING:
Tertiary hospital, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. METHODS: Four
participants with incomplete chronic SCI were included for BWS locomotor
training; one AIS-C and three AIS-D (according to the ASIA (American Spinal
Injury Association) Impairment Scale or AIS). All were at least 5 years after
injury. The SCI participants were trained three times a week for a period of 6
weeks. They improved their locomotor function in terms of higher walking speed,
less BWS and less assistance needed. To investigate which treadmill speed for EMG
assessment reflects the functional improvement most adequately, all participants
were assessed weekly using the same two speeds (0.5 and 1.5 km h(-1), referred to
as low and high speed, respectively) for 6 weeks. The change in root mean square
EMG (RMS EMG) was assessed in four leg muscles; biceps femoris, rectus femoris,
gastrocnemius medialis and tibialis anterior. RESULTS: The changes in RMS EMG
occurred at similar phases of the step cycle for both walking conditions, but
these changes were larger when the treadmill was set at a low speed (0.5 km
h(-1)). CONCLUSION: Improvement in gait is feasible with BWS treadmill training
even long after injury. The EMG changes after treadmill training are more
optimally expressed using a low rather than a high testing treadmill speed.

Langue : ANGLAIS