Neuromechanical Characterization of Agonist and Antagonist Muscle Activations in the Lower Limbs During Walking After Central Nervous System Injury

After injury to the central nervous system, walking disorders are associated with complex neuromuscular mechanisms that alter the direction and intensity of the descending control, reflex reactions to kinematic changes and the mechanical components of soft tissues. The dissociated analysis of these mechanisms and their interactions during multi-segmental movements and especially during walking is poorly described. However, a quantified assessment of the responsibility of each of the neuromuscular mechanisms in the functional disorder would guide the choice of treatments. 3D gait laboratories provide kinematic data from synchronized walking to surface electromyograms as part of additional assessments to assist in the follow-up of patients with chronic hemiparesis. Retrospective analysis of these data would help to better characterize muscular activation disorders and passive resistance to movement during walking in this population.