Article

OBJECTIVE: To quantify changes in pinch force and brachioradialis (BR) activation
after a task-based training program designed to improve pinch force after BR to
flexor pollicis longus (FPL) transfer. DESIGN: One-group repeated-measures design
compared pinch force and BR activation pre- and posttraining. Significant
differences were tested with Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for pairwise comparisons
at the P</=.05 level. SETTING: Testing occurred in a Veterans Affairs Medical
Center research laboratory and training was in a home setting. PARTICIPANTS:
Participants with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and previous BR to FPL
transfer were enrolled in the study (N=8). Six patients completed the training
program and posttraining measures. INTERVENTIONS:
The 10-week training was a home
program that included novel activities to increase BR activation and practice
producing pinch force in a variety of upper limb postures. Participants were
provided with the task-based training equipment and instructed to practice 3
times per week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fine-wire electromyography of the
transferred BR was recorded in maximum effort pinch force (N). Secondary measures
included the strength and activation of the antagonist elbow extensor. RESULTS:
Pinch force increased 3.7N (.38kg) and BR muscle activation increased 10%
(P</=.05) after the training. There was no increase in elbow extension strength,
but participants with previous posterior deltoid to triceps transfer achieved
greater activation of the antagonist elbow extensor. CONCLUSIONS: The findings
from this pilot study suggest that outcomes of tendon transfer and conventional
therapy can be improved for patients with chronic cervical SCI.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS