O 027 - There are common patterns of muscle synergy in cerebral palsy crouch gait

Publication date: Available online 25 July 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): M. Shojaeefard, A. Khandan, M. Arab Baniasad, F. Farahmand, S. Baghdadi, A. Vafaei, R. Narimani

Abstract

Background

Muscle synergy is the leading hypothesis on how the central nervous system coordinates limb functions. Cerebral palsy (CP) patients utilize fewer synergies, and are believed to have a simpler neuromuscular control. This study was undertaken to determine whether consistent muscle synergies are recruited during ambulation in cerebral palsy crouch gait and how the muscles contribute to such synergies.

Methods

Ten ambulatory CP patients were recruited. All walked with crouch gait. sEMG data were collected from 14 lower limb muscles during gait analysis. Non-negative matrix factorization method was utilized to extract muscle synergies.

Results and significance

A total of five synergy patterns were extracted. One synergy was shared among all patients, and was more active during swing. Another pattern was observed in seven patients, and was active during stance. These data suggest that CP patients with crouch gait utilize the simplest neuromuscular pattern to ambulate. One synergy is responsible for the swing phase, and one for the stance. This will substantially limit the adaptability of gait to various walking circumstances. The results of this study may help guide gait training programs and maximize the efficiency of ambulation in CP crouch gait.

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