Исследование межконечностных взаимодействий у человека при неинвазивной электрической стимуляции спинного мозга

Abstract

The effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord on the kinematic and electromyographic characteristics of motor responses in the arms and legs muscles in healthy subjects have been studied. The subjects placed in the biomechanical simulator in a supine position and performed voluntary rhythmic leg movements displacing the carriage of the simulator's walking device, voluntary arm movements, moving the simulator levers or performed simultaneous arm and leg movements. During the rest, the sequential stimulation at the level of Th12-L1, L1-L2 and C5-C6 vertebrae did not elicit leg movements in most subjects, however, the arm movements in combination with stimulation of the spinal cord initiated fluctuations in the joints of the legs (amplitude up to 10 angle degrees). The stimulation in combination with arm movements facilitated voluntary leg movements and increased the integral characteristic of electromyographic activity. The most pronounced changes in the amplitude of movements of the hip joint were revealed. Effects of multisegmental spinal cord stimulation in regulation of interlimb synergy were examined. The results can be used to develop the approach for neurorehabilitation of patients with impaired motor functions.