Changes in thoracic erector spinae regional activation during postural adjustments and functional reaching tasks after spinal cord injury
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Many individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit reduced volitional control of trunk muscles, such as impaired voluntary contractions of the erector spinae (ES), due to damage to the neural pathways regulating sensorimotor function. Studies using conventional bipolar electromyography (EMG) showed alterations in the overall, or global, activation of the trunk muscles in people with SCI. However, how activation varied across specific regions within the ES, referred to as regional activation, remains unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the regional distribution of the ES activity below the level of injury in individuals with incomplete SCI during postural tasks and multidirectional reaching tasks using high-density EMG. Twenty-one individuals with incomplete SCI and age-matched controls were recruited. The EMG amplitude of the thoracic ES and displacement of the arm, trunk, and center of pressure were recorded during the tasks. Activation was more in the lower region of the ES in individuals with SCI than in the controls during the postural tasks. In addition, activation was limited to a small area of the ES during the reaching tasks. The EMG amplitude was greater during reaching forward than returning to the upright posture in the controls; however, this phase-dependent difference in the EMG amplitude was not present in individuals with SCI. Our findings demonstrate changes in regional activation of the thoracic ES during postural and reaching tasks, likely reflecting injury-induced changes in selective neural control to activate residual muscle fibers of the ES for postural control and function after SCI.
Date Issued
2025-03-01
Date Acceptance
2025-01-16
Citation
Journal of Neurophysiology, 2025, 133 (3), pp.727-741
ISSN
0022-3077
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Start Page
727
End Page
741
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Neurophysiology
Volume
133
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2025 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution CC-BY 4.0. Published by the American Physiological Society.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39828930
Subjects
high-density surface electromyography
motor control
muscle recruitment
neuromuscular function
postural control
Humans
Spinal Cord Injuries
Male
Female
Adult
Middle Aged
Electromyography
Paraspinal Muscles
Psychomotor Performance
Postural Balance
Thoracic Vertebrae
Posture
Aged
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Date Publish Online
2025-02-21