An electromyographic study of abdominal muscle activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Saviour Adjenti,Marianne Unger,Jennifer Jelsma,Graham Louw

doi:10.4102/sajp.v73i1.341

Abstract

BackgroundInadequate knowledge in the recruitment patterns of abdominal muscles in individuals with spastic-type cerebral palsy (STCP).ObjectivesTo determine whether there is any difference between the neuromuscular activity (activation pattern) of the abdominal muscles in children with STCP and those of their typically developing (TD) peers.MethodThe NORAXAN® electromyography (EMG) was used to monitor the neuromuscular activity in abdominal muscles of individuals with STCP (n = 63), and the results were compared with the findings from age-matched TD individuals (n = 82).ResultsEMG frequencies were recorded during rest and during active states and compared using repeated measures ANOVA. Spearman’s rank order correlation was used to explore relationships between age, body mass index and abdominal muscle activity. With the exception of the rectus abdominis (RA) muscle, the pattern of neuromuscular activity in children with STCP differs significantly from that of their TD peers. Three of the muscles – external oblique abdominis (EO), internal oblique abdominis (IO) and RA – in both groups showed significant changes (p < 0.001) in the frequency of EMG activity between the resting and active states. An elevated EMG activity at rest in the EO and IO was recorded in the STCP group, whereas the RA during resting and active stages showed similar results to TD individuals.ConclusionThe findings from this study suggest that the RA could be targeted during rehabilitation regimens; however, the force generated by this muscle may not be sufficient for the maintenance of trunk stability without optimal support from the EO and IO muscles.

Highlights

Inadequate knowledge in the recruitment patterns of abdominal muscles in individuals with spastic-type cerebral palsy (STCP)
This study has shown that similarities and differences exist in the EMG activity recorded for the abdominal muscles in children with STCP and their age-matched typically developing (TD) peers
The surface electromyography (sEMG) results for the rectus abdominis (RA) muscle in individuals with STCP suggest that the RA muscle in individuals with STCP can contract optimally, appear unaffected or least affected by the condition of STCP

Summary

Introduction

Inadequate knowledge in the recruitment patterns of abdominal muscles in individuals with spastic-type cerebral palsy (STCP). The global system of which the abdominal muscles form part is known to recruit fibres at different intensities to produce movements (Vasseljen et al 2009) These muscles need to contract appropriately, eccentrically and isometrically, to contribute to the stability of the trunk (Hagberg et al 2001; Tucker & Hodges 2010). Muscle weakness and morphological disorientation of the trunk are the typical physical signs commonly associated with low back pain (Tucker & Hodges 2010) These are said to resemble the physical characteristics of individuals with spastic-type cerebral palsy (STCP) (Rosenbaum et al 2007). Because the abdominal muscles have been considered as forming part of the global system, and are trunk stabilisers, a comprehensive knowledge of their recruitment patterns may be useful during rehabilitation regimens for individuals with STCP

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