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Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Published in: Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research

Muscle synergies in preparation to a step made with obstacle in elderly individuals

Authors: Yun Wang, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Tadayoshi Asaka

Published in: Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

To evaluate if multi-muscle synergies are comprised of flexible combinations of a small number of postural muscles to stabilize the center of pressure (COP) shift during preparation to making a step in the elderly (self-paced level stepping vs. obstacle crossing stepping).

Methods

Electromyography (EMG) signals of leg and trunk muscles were recorded. Linear combination of integrated indices of muscle activity (M-modes) and their relationship to changes in the COP shift in the anterior-posterior (AP) direction were first determined. Uncontrolled manifold (UCM) analysis was performed to determine the extent to which variance of the M-modes acted to produce a consistent change in the COP displacement.

Results

The elderly were capable of stabilizing the COPAP coordinate based on co-varied involvement of the M-modes. The synergy index (∆V) changes in the elderly emerged later (100 ms prior to t0) and its magnitude was smaller as compared to that reported in younger persons.

Conclusions

Our study reveals that aging is associated with a preserved ability to explore the flexibility of the M-mode compositions but a decrease ability to use multi-M-mode synergies following a predictable perturbation.
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Metadata
Title
Muscle synergies in preparation to a step made with obstacle in elderly individuals
Authors
Yun Wang
Kazuhiko Watanabe
Tadayoshi Asaka
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1743-0003
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-015-0005-9

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