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. 2024 Apr;19(4):161-170.
doi: 10.2217/rme-2023-0049. Epub 2023 Nov 13.

An assessment of co-contraction in reinnervated muscle

Matthew Wilcox  1   2   3 , Hazel Brown  1   2 , Kathryn Johnson  1 , Marco Sinisi  1 , Tom J Quick  1   2
Affiliations

An assessment of co-contraction in reinnervated muscle

Matthew Wilcox et al. Regen Med. 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate co-contraction in reinnervated elbow flexor muscles following a nerve transfer. Materials & methods: 12 brachial plexus injury patients who received a nerve transfer to reanimate elbow flexion were included in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) recordings were used to quantify co-contraction during sustained and repeated isometric contractions of reinnervated and contralateral uninjured elbow flexor muscles. Reuslts: For the first time, this study reveals reinnervated muscles demonstrated a trend toward higher co-contraction ratios when compared with uninjured muscle and this is correlated with an earlier onset of muscle fatigability. Conclusion: Measurements of co-contraction should be considered within muscular function assessments to help drive improvements in motor recovery therapies.

Keywords: MRC grading; co-contraction; muscle fatigue; muscle reinnervation; nerve transfer; peripheral nerve injury.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. A visual representation of the study setup.
Image (A) indicates the placement of the recording electrode over the elbow flexor compartment (biceps brachialis), (B) placement of the recording electrode over the elbow extensor compartment (triceps brachii) and (C) indicates the positioning of the handheld dynamometry (HHD) for force measurements during the sustained and repeated models of fatigue assessment. Reproduced with permission from [8] © The British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Tabulated co-contraction data during repeated isometric contraction of the elbow flexors.
(A) Mean co-contraction ratios (error bars represent ± 1 standard deviation) for each isometric contractions of elbow flexor muscles in the reinnervated (n = 12) and uninjured contralateral arms (n = 12). (B) Tabulated co-contraction data from (A). Data presented as mean ± 1 standard deviation.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Tabulated co-contraction data during sustained isometric contraction of the elbow flexors.
(A) Mean co-contraction ratios (error bars represent ± 1 standard deviation) for each time group of the sustained isometric contraction of elbow flexor muscles in the reinnervated (n = 12) and uninjured contralateral arms (n = 12). (B) Tabulated co-contraction data from (A). Data presented as mean ± 1 standard deviation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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