%0 Journal Article
%T Co-contraction patterns of trans-tibial amputee ankle and knee musculature during gait
%A Mahyo Seyedali
%A Joseph M Czerniecki
%A David C Morgenroth
%A Michael E Hahn
%J Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1743-0003-9-29
%X Nine unilateral traumatic trans-tibial amputees and five matched controls participated. Surface electromyography recorded activation from the Tibialis Anterior, Medial Gastrocnemius, Vastus Lateralis and Biceps Femoris of the residual, intact and control limbs. A series of filters were applied to the signal to obtain a linear envelope of the activation patterns. A co-contraction area (ratio of the integrated agonist and antagonist activity) was calculated during specific phases of gait.Co-contraction of the ankle muscles was greater in the residual limb than in the intact and control limbs during all phases of gait. Knee muscle co-contraction was greater in the residual limb than in the control limb during all phases of gait.Co-contractions may represent a limb stiffening strategy to enhance stability during phases of initial foot-contact and single limb support. These strategies may be functionally necessary for amputee gait; however, the presence of co-contractions could confound future development of myoelectric controls and should thus be accounted for.
%K Electromyography
%K Myoelectric control
%K Trans-tibial amputees
%K Activation patterns
%K Muscle amplitude
%U http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/9/1/29/abstract