Article

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether children with cerebral palsy
(CP), like typically developing peers, would compensate for muscle fatigue by
recruiting additional motor units during a sustained low force contraction until
task failure. Twelve children with CP and 17 typically developing peers performed
one submaximal isometric elbow flexion contraction until the task could no longer
be sustained at on average 25% (range 10-35%) of their maximal voluntary torque.
Meanwhile surface electromyography (EMG) was measured from the biceps brachii and
triceps brachii, and acceleration variations of the forearm were detected by an
accelerometer. Slopes of the change in EMG amplitude and median frequency and
accelerometer variation during time normalised to their initial values were
calculated. Strength and time to task failure were similar in both groups.
Children with CP exhibited a lower increase in EMG amplitude of the biceps
brachii and triceps brachii during the course of the sustained elbow flexion
task, while there were no significant group differences in median frequency
decrease or acceleration variation increase. This indicates that children with CP
do not compensate muscle fatigue with recruitment of additional motor units
during sustained low force contractions.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI