Muscle stiffness regulation and electromyographic changes of the lower limbs during descending stairs after visual deprivation

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1162

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The balance and control of the human body depend on the coordination between the vestibular system of the inner ear, the proprioceptors and the visual system, as well as the central nervous system. However, it is unclear about the muscle stiffness regulation and motion control strategy for the lower limbs by the changes in neural control and sensory integration caused by visual deprivation (the eyes are blindfolded).
OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of muscle stiffness regulation and electromyography changes of the lower limbs during descending stairs in children and adolescents with the eyes blindfolded or not, and then to reveal the regulatory effects of visual sense on neuromuscular control and muscle stiffness regulation in adolescents.
METHODS: Twenty adolescents with normal vision were randomly divided into blindfolded group and unblindfolded group (n=10 per group). The two groups of subjects were required to descend stairs from three different heights (20, 30, 40 cm) and do their best to perform a squat jump after landing. All subjects were asked to repeat the above-mentioned action thrice, and the data for the most natural actions were analyzed. Vision-based motion imaging analysis system, JP6 060 3D force-plate, and 8-channel wireless surface electromyography testing system were utilized to test the kinematic (landed knee and ankle joint angles), kinetic (joint stiffness and stiffness of the lower limbs), and electromyography parameters (rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius) of the subjects during descending stairs. All the data were processed using SPSS17.0 software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) During landing from three different heights, the knee and ankle joint angles of the blindfolded group were significantly larger than those of the unblindfolded group. At the moment of the appearance of the peak reacting force during landing, the knee joint angle of the blindfolded group was smaller than that of the unblindfolded group. Furthermore, the intergroup difference in the ankle joint angle was related to the height of the stair. (2) The first peak vertical force and its relative mean value during landing from different heights were significantly higher in the unblindfolded group compared to the blindfolded group, and both parameters significantly increased with the height increase. (3) During landing from different heights, the stiffness values of the knee joints and lower limbs in the unblindfolded group were significantly higher than those in the blindfolded group, and the stiffness values in the two groups were significantly increased with the height increase. (4) At the moment of pre-landing from different heights, the electromyography activities of the biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius in the unblindfolded group were significantly higher than those in the blindfolded group, whereas during the buffer period, the electromyography activities of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius were significantly lower in the blindfolded group than in the unblindfolded group. (5) In conclusion, during descending stairs from different heights, visual deprivation (no visual feedback) reduces the capabilities of identification and environmental observation. The lack of vision may result in a significant decline in the performance of related movements, and thus the central nervous system cannot receive information, thereby impacting the implementation of the action.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程

Key words: Kinesiology, Applied, Kinetics, Electromyography, Tissue Engineering

CLC Number:

R496

Peng Yuanqiu. Muscle stiffness regulation and electromyographic changes of the lower limbs during descending stairs after visual deprivation[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2019, 23(15): 2338-2344.

Figures/Tables 2

2.3 不同组别不同阶梯高度着地腿触地瞬间膝、踝角变化分析表3显示：同一高度下阶梯，蒙眼组前导腿触地瞬间膝角及踝角显著大于不蒙眼组(P < 0.05)；无论是蒙眼还是不蒙眼，在20，30，40 cm3种阶梯高度下，其前导腿触地瞬时膝角与踝角差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。 2.4 不同组别不同阶梯高度着地过程中地面反作用力达到峰值时的膝、踝角变化分析表4显示：在20，30，40 cm 3种高度下阶梯，前导腿触地过程中地面反作用力达到峰值时的膝角均表现为不蒙眼组显著大于蒙眼组(P < 0.05)，而踝角只有当阶梯高度等于40 cm时才表现这一相同的规律；同一组别不同阶梯高度比较发现，随着阶梯高度的上升，膝角、踝角呈显著增加趋势(P < 0.05)，经LSD多重比较发现，当阶梯高度超过30 cm，蒙眼组膝、踝角的增加没有统计学意义，而不蒙眼组膝角增加无统计学意义，但踝角一直呈显著增加趋势(P < 0.05)。 2.5 不同组别不同阶梯高度着地过程中的地面反作用力峰值变化分析表5显示：蒙眼组与不蒙眼组在3种阶梯高度着地后所产生的第一垂直地面反作用力峰值绝对值及相对值均表现为不蒙眼组显著大于蒙眼组(P < 0.05)；同一组别不同阶梯高度比较发现，随着阶梯高度的上升，作用力峰值绝对值及相对值均呈显著增加趋势(P < 0.05)。 2.6 不同组别不同阶梯高度下着地过程中的刚度变化分析表6显示：蒙眼组与不蒙眼组在3种阶梯高度着地过程中前导腿膝关节刚度及下肢刚度均表现为不蒙眼组显著大于蒙眼组(P < 0.05)；同一组别不同阶梯高度比较发现，随着阶梯高度的上升，不蒙眼组膝关节刚度及下肢刚度均呈显著增加趋势(P < 0.05)，而蒙眼组的膝关节刚度先下降再显著增加(P < 0.05)，下肢刚度则一直呈显著增加趋势(P < 0.05)。 2.7 不同组别不同阶梯高度下着地过程中着地腿主要肌群肌电变化分析表7显示：①着地前期，在不同组别的4个检测肌群中，除了股直肌蒙眼组与不蒙眼组两组间无显著差异外(P > 0.05)，其余3块肌肉肌电活动均表现为不蒙眼组显著高于蒙眼组(P < 0.05)；②在缓冲期，不同组别的4个检测肌群中蒙眼组的股直肌、胫骨前肌、腓肠肌的肌电活动均显著小于不蒙眼组(P < 0.05)，而蒙眼组与不蒙眼组的股二头肌肌电活动无明显差异(P > 0.05)；同组别不同阶梯高度之间的比较发现，除了不蒙眼组的股直肌随着高度增加肌电活动呈显著增加外，其余肌肉肌电活动与阶梯高度无关(P > 0.05)。"

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