Effect of Sensory Feedback from the Proximal Upper Limb on Voluntary Isometric Finger Flexion and Extension in Hemiparetic Stroke Subjects

Authors

Gilles Hoffmann, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Brian D. Schmit, Marquette UniversityFollow
Jennifer H. Kahn, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Derek G. Kamper, Illinois Institute of Technology

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

11 p.

Publication Date

11-2011

Publisher

American Physiological Society

Source Publication

Journal of Neurophysiology

Source ISSN

0022-3077

Original Item ID

doi: 10.1152/jn.00522.2010

Abstract

This study investigated the potential influence of proximal sensory feedback on voluntary distal motor activity in the paretic upper limb of hemiparetic stroke survivors and the potential effect of voluntary distal motor activity on proximal muscle activity. Ten stroke subjects and 10 neurologically intact control subjects performed maximum voluntary isometric flexion and extension, respectively, at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the fingers in two static arm postures and under three conditions of electrical stimulation of the arm. The tasks were quantified in terms of maximum MCP torque [MCP flexion (MCP_flex) or MCP extension (MCP_ext)] and activity of targeted (flexor digitorum superficialis or extensor digitorum communis) and nontargeted upper limb muscles. From a previous study on the MCP stretch reflex poststroke, we expected stroke subjects to exhibit a modulation of voluntary MCP torque production by arm posture and electrical stimulation and increased nontargeted muscle activity. Posture 1 (flexed elbow, neutral shoulder) led to greater MCP_flex in stroke subjects than posture 2 (extended elbow, flexed shoulder). Electrical stimulation did not influence MCP_flex or MCP_ext in either subject group. In stroke subjects, posture 1 led to greater nontargeted upper limb flexor activity during MCP_flex and to greater elbow flexor and extensor activity during MCP_ext. Stroke subjects exhibited greater elbow flexor activity during MCP_flex and greater elbow flexor and extensor activity during MCP_ext than control subjects. The results suggest that static arm posture can modulate voluntary distal motor activity and accompanying muscle activity in the paretic upper limb poststroke.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol. 106, No. 5 (November 2011): 2546-2556. DOI. © 2011 the American Physiological Society. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Hoffmann, Gilles; Schmit, Brian D.; Kahn, Jennifer H.; and Kamper, Derek G., "Effect of Sensory Feedback from the Proximal Upper Limb on Voluntary Isometric Finger Flexion and Extension in Hemiparetic Stroke Subjects" (2011). Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 266.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bioengin_fac/266