Short-term limb immobilization affects motor performance.
C. Ghez, J. Gordon, and M. R Ghilardi (1995; J. Gordon, M. R Ghilardi, & C. Ghez, 1995; R. L. Sainburg, M. R Ghilardi, H. Poizner, & C. Ghez, 1995) have found that proprio-ceptive deafferentation impairs feedforward and feedback mechanisms that control reaching movements. In the present study, the authors found immobilization-induced changes in limb kinematics, including joint motion, in 32 healthy participants who performed out-and-back movements before and after 0, 6, or 12 hr of immobilization of the left arm. Control participants did not undergo the arm immobilization procedure. Immobilization for 12 hr, but not 6 hr, caused trajectories with increased hand-path areas and altered interjoint coordination. The abnormalities were smaller in amplitude but similar in quality to those reported in deafferented patients (R. L. Sainburg et al.). In addition, movement onset point significantly drifted after immobilization. Thus, short-term limb disuse can affect interjoint coordination by acting on feedforward mechanisms. These behavioral alterations are potentially related to cortical plastic changes.
Moisello
Clara
C
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, City University of New York Medical School, University of Genoa, Italy.
Bove
Marco
M
Huber
Reto
R
Abbruzzese
Giovanni
G
Battaglia
Fortunato
F
Tononi
Giulio
G
Ghilardi
M Felice
MF
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D005246:Feedback / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors