Electromyography study of six parts of the latissimus dorsi during reaching tasks while seated: A comparison between healthy subjects and stroke patients

Abstract

To compare the excitation of the six different segments of the latissimus dorsi (LD) while reaching different distances and in different directions in stroke patients and healthy controls. Surface electromyography was used to measure the excitation of the LD segments (LD1-LD6) in 12 chronic stroke patients and 11 healthy controls during reaching tasks. A target was placed in the sagittal and scapular planes at arm's length, 125% of arm's length, and maximum reaching distance. The clinical trial registration number is NCT04181151 (date of registration November 25, 2019). The excitation of the LD segments during the arm's length reaching task was similar between the groups (pgreater than0.05). The excitation of LD1, LD2, and LD5 in the sagittal plane and of LD1, LD2, LD3, and LD5 in the scapular plane was higher during the reaching 125% of arm's length task compared to the controls (p<0.05). During the maximum reaching task, the excitation of LD1 was higher in the stroke patients in both the sagittal and scapular planes (p<0.05). The excitation of the LD segments was influenced by the direction and distance of the reaching in the stroke patients. The results of this study may help us to better understand how the LD behaves after stroke and to design rehabilitation approaches with a greater focus on the LD.