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Controlled Clinical Trial
. 2008 May;23(4):442-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2007.11.004. Epub 2007 Dec 20.

Lower extremity muscle activity during cycling in adolescents with and without cerebral palsy

Richard T Lauer  1 , Therese E Johnston, Brian T Smith, Samuel C K Lee
Affiliations
Controlled Clinical Trial

Lower extremity muscle activity during cycling in adolescents with and without cerebral palsy

Richard T Lauer et al. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2008 May.

Abstract

Background: In individuals with cerebral palsy, adaptation and plasticity in the neuromuscular system can lead to detrimental changes affecting gait. Cycling may be an effective method to improve mobility. The biomechanics of cycling in adolescents with cerebral palsy have been studied, but further analysis of the frequency and amplitude characteristics of the electromyographic signals can assist with interpretation of the cycling kinematics.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 10 adolescents with typical development (mean=14.9, SD=1.4 years) and 10 adolescents with cerebral palsy (mean=15.6, SD=1.8 years) as they cycled at two different cadences. Analyses of the lower extremity electromyographic signals involved frequency and amplitude analysis across the cycling revolution.

Findings: Examination of cycling cadence revealed that adolescents with cerebral palsy had altered electromyographic characteristics in comparison to adolescents with typical development across the entire crank revolution for all muscles. Analyses of individual muscles indicated both inappropriate muscle activation and weakness.

Interpretation: A more comprehensive analysis of electromyographic activity has the potential to provide insight into how a task is accomplished. In this study, the control of the several muscles, especially the rectus femoris, was significantly different in adolescents with cerebral palsy. This, combined with muscle weakness, may have contributed to the observed deviations in joint kinematics. Interventions that increase muscle strength with feedback to the nervous system about appropriate activation timing may be beneficial to allow individuals with cerebral palsy to cycle more efficiently.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bicycle set-up as based upon subject anthropometrics. The seat to pedal distance (1) was 85% of the distance from the greater trochanter to the base of the calcaneus. The seat to the greater trochanter distance (2) was 15% of this same measurement, while the crank arm length (3) was 30% of the subject’s tibial length.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The average frequency (left) and amplitude (right) curves for the rectus femoris as a function of cycle angle for the four groupings examined in this study,
Figure 3
Figure 3
The average frequency (left) and amplitude (right) curves for the vastus lateralis as a function of cycle angle for the four groupings examined in this study,
Figure 4
Figure 4
The average frequency (left) and amplitude (right) curves for the biceps femoris as a function of cycle angle for the four groupings examined in this study,
Figure 5
Figure 5
The average frequency (left) and amplitude (right) curves for the medial hamstring as a function of cycle angle for the four groupings examined in this study,
Figure 6
Figure 6
The average frequency (left) and amplitude (right) curves for the anterior tibialis as a function of cycle angle for the four groupings examined in this study,
Figure 7
Figure 7
The average frequency (left) and amplitude (right) curves for the gastrocnemius as a function of cycle angle for the four groupings examined in this study,
Figure 8
Figure 8
The average frequency (left) and amplitude (right) curves for the soleus as a function of cycle angle for the four groupings examined in this study,
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