Article

Little attention has been given to training speed of movement, even though
functional activities require quick submaximal contractions.
Closed kinetic chain
(CKC) exercises are considered more functional; however, the best method for
training speed is not known. A single bout of open kinetic chain (OKC) exercises
emphasizing speed was performed to determine whether movement velocity and muscle
activation would improve in a single session and whether the improvements
transfer to a physiological balance task. Eleven participants <1 year post-stroke
performed an arm raise task before and after a single session of fast OKC
exercises. Surface electromyography (EMG) from soleus (SOL), tibialis anterior
(TA), biceps femoris (BF) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles, peak velocity and
average power were recorded during the OKC exercises. EMG from SOL, TA, BF and RF
and center of pressure (COP) velocity were measured during arm raise task. At the
end of the OKC exercises, velocity, power and TA, BF and RF EMG area increased.
The arm acceleration and BF EMG area increased significantly during the arm
raise. The improvements observed at the end of the OKC exercises transferred to
the arm raise task. The improvements in balance were comparable to those
previously seen after CKC exercises.

Langue : ANGLAIS