title: Short-term limb immobilization affects motor performance.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, City University of New York Medical School, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moisello
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bove
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tononi
authors.forename: M Felice
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ghilardi
mesh_terms: 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