Effects of Speed on Spatiotemporal Gluteus Maximus Activation During a Chair-Rise Following Chronic Stroke

Abstract

Research Objectives To investigate gluteus maximus activation during natural and fast-speed chair-rising comparing adults post-stroke to healthy controls. Design Cross-sectional study design. Setting Post-graduate university for allied health professions. Participants Eleven adults (n = 11) with unilateral lower extremity weakness following chronic stroke and eleven healthy adults (n = 11) participated in this study. Interventions Surface electromyographic electrodes were positioned on bilateral gluteus maximus muscles to capture activation variables. Kinetic and kinematic measurements were taken to quantify chair-rise phases. Participants stood independently with arms crossed at self-selected natural and fast speeds four times each with averages used for statistical analysis. Main Outcome Measures Normalized root mean square (RMS) values of bilateral gluteus maximus muscle activation were measured during natural and fast-speed chair-rising. Additionally, onset of gluteus maximus activation was used to quantify neuromuscular control during chair-rising. Results Individuals post-stroke displayed prolonged chair-rise times compared to healthy controls during natural-speed conditions (p = .001) with no differences during fast-speeds (p = 0.124). Decreased gluteus maximus magnitudes were noted bilaterally post-stroke compared to healthy adults for both speeds (p = .007). Increased magnitudes (p < .001) and earlier onset times (p < .001) were noted during fast-speeds for both groups. No magnitude differences were noted between paretic and non-paretic extremities post-stroke (p = .846). A unique delayed onset of the paretic gluteus maximus was evident during both speed conditions (p = .029) in adults post-stroke. Conclusions Results indicate bilateral spatiotemporal gluteus maximus muscle activation deficits during chair-rising with improved activation during faster speeds. This study contributes evidence toward the use of high-intensity chair-rise training to improve spatiotemporal gluteus maximus muscle activation post-stroke. Author(s) Disclosures The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. To investigate gluteus maximus activation during natural and fast-speed chair-rising comparing adults post-stroke to healthy controls. Cross-sectional study design. Post-graduate university for allied health professions. Eleven adults (n = 11) with unilateral lower extremity weakness following chronic stroke and eleven healthy adults (n = 11) participated in this study. Surface electromyographic electrodes were positioned on bilateral gluteus maximus muscles to capture activation variables. Kinetic and kinematic measurements were taken to quantify chair-rise phases. Participants stood independently with arms crossed at self-selected natural and fast speeds four times each with averages used for statistical analysis. Normalized root mean square (RMS) values of bilateral gluteus maximus muscle activation were measured during natural and fast-speed chair-rising. Additionally, onset of gluteus maximus activation was used to quantify neuromuscular control during chair-rising. Individuals post-stroke displayed prolonged chair-rise times compared to healthy controls during natural-speed conditions (p = .001) with no differences during fast-speeds (p = 0.124). Decreased gluteus maximus magnitudes were noted bilaterally post-stroke compared to healthy adults for both speeds (p = .007). Increased magnitudes (p < .001) and earlier onset times (p < .001) were noted during fast-speeds for both groups. No magnitude differences were noted between paretic and non-paretic extremities post-stroke (p = .846). A unique delayed onset of the paretic gluteus maximus was evident during both speed conditions (p = .029) in adults post-stroke. Results indicate bilateral spatiotemporal gluteus maximus muscle activation deficits during chair-rising with improved activation during faster speeds. This study contributes evidence toward the use of high-intensity chair-rise training to improve spatiotemporal gluteus maximus muscle activation post-stroke.