The Impact of Segmental Trunk Support on Posture and Reaching While Sitting in Healthy Adults |
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Authors: | Victor Santamaria Jaya Rachwani Wayne Manselle Sandra L. Saavedra Marjorie Woollacott |
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Affiliation: | 1. Motor Control and Cognition Lab, Human Physiology Department &2. Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon;3. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut |
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Abstract: | The authors investigated postural and arm control in seated reaches while providing trunk support at midribs and pelvic levels in adults. Kinematics and electromyography of the arm and ipsiliateral and contralateral paraspinal muscles were examined before and during reaching. Kinematics remained constant across conditions, but changes were observed in neuromuscular control. With midribs support, the ipsilateral cervical muscle showed either increased anticipatory activity or earlier compensatory muscle responses, suggesting its major role in head stabilization. The baseline activity of bilateral lumbar muscles was enhanced with midribs support, whereas with pelvic support, the activation frequency of paraspinal muscles increased during reaching. The results suggest that segmental trunk support in healthy adults modulates ipsilateral or contralateral paraspinal activity while overall kinematic outputs remain invariant. |
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Keywords: | EMG goal-directed action kinematics postural control |
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