Validation of an adjustment equation for the burst superimposition technique in subjects post-stroke.
BACKGROUND
Deficits in voluntary force generation may be due to incomplete activation or decreased maximum force-generating ability (MFGA) of the targeted muscle. The validity of techniques used to measure MFGA in individuals post-stroke has not been assessed. The objective of this study was to determine the reliability of the MFGA predicted using an adjusted burst superimposition method within a post-stroke population.


METHODS
Differences in paretic-side plantar flexor muscle MFGA between 2 trials was calculated using the standard and adjusted burst superimposition technique for 17 individuals post-stroke (15 men, 58.7 ± 10 years of age, ≥6 months post-stroke) to assess reliability of the techniques.


RESULTS
The adjusted measurement was shown to be more reliable (P = 0.03), especially when volitional effort differed by >40 N.


CONCLUSIONS
Reliable measurement of the MFGA in individuals who have sustained a stroke is of clinical importance. These results suggest that the adjusted burst superimposition method may be useful when performing multiple measurements of muscle performance.
Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA. bknarr@udel.edu
Brian A
BA
Knarr
Jill S
JS
Higginson
Stuart A
SA
Binder-Macleod
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*