title: Trunk muscle activity during walking in persons with multiple sclerosis: the influence of body weight support.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the trunk is important for maintaining balance during walking only very limited information about the trunk muscle activity during walking with body weight support (BWS) is reported in literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure the effect of BWS on the trunk muscle activity during treadmill walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  14 persons with multiple sclerosis and 14 healthy persons walked on a treadmill with 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50% and 70% BWS. Bilateral EMG measurements (surface electrodes) on the m. rectus abdominis, m. obliquus externus, m. erector spinae and m. multifidus were performed. The maximal muscle activation was presented as a percentage of a performance related reference contraction. A repeated measures ANOVA with simple contrasts was applied (SPSS20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general when comparing walking with BWS with walking with 0% BWS there is an increase in m. obliquus externus activity and a decrease in back muscle activity. With increasing percentages of BWS an increase in activity of the abdominal muscles and a decrease in back muscle activity was found, with most changes in high percentages BWS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results, it is recommended to decrease the percentage BWS as fast as possible beneath 30% BWS.
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Advanced Rehabilitation Technology and Science (ARTS), Brussels, Belgium Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swinnen
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Advanced Rehabilitation Technology and Science (ARTS), Brussels, Belgium University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baeyens
authors.affiliation: University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Seppe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pintens
authors.affiliation: National Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melsbroek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Nieuwenhoven
authors.affiliation: National Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Melsbroek, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ilsbroukx
authors.affiliation: University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clijsen
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buyl
authors.affiliation: University College Artesis, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Advanced Rehabilitation Technology and Science (ARTS), Brussels, Belgium Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meeusen
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Advanced Rehabilitation Technology and Science (ARTS), Brussels, Belgium Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kerckhofs
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D064131:Back Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D001915:Braces; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051341:Dependent Ambulation; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D060726:Torso; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abdominal muscles; EMG; back muscles; body weight support; electromyography; gait; gait analysis; multiple sclerosis; rehabilitation; treadmill; walking