Upper extremity kinematics and muscle activation patterns in subjects with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the kinematics and muscle activity of subjects with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) and healthy control subjects during the performance of standardized upper extremity tasks.


METHODS
Exploratory case-control study.


METHODS
A movement laboratory.


METHODS
Subjects (N=19) with FSHD (n=11) and healthy control subjects (n=8) were measured.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Kinematic data were recorded using a 3-dimensional motion capturing system. Muscle activities, recorded using electromyography, were obtained from 6 superficial muscles around the glenohumeral joint. Shoulder elevation and elbow flexion angles, and maximum electromyographic activity during the movements as a percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were calculated.


RESULTS
Kinematic differences between the FSHD group and the healthy control group were found in the shoulder elevation angle during single shoulder movements and both reaching tasks. In general, subjects with FSHD had higher percentages of muscle activation. The median activity of the trapezius was close to the MVC activity during the single shoulder movements. Moreover, deltoid and pectoralis muscles were also highly active.


CONCLUSIONS
Higher activation of the trapezius in subjects with FSHD indicates a mechanism that could help relieve impaired shoulder muscles during arm elevation around shoulder height. Compared with healthy subjects, persons with FSHD activated their shoulder muscles to a greater extent during movements that required arm elevation.
Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Center for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: arjen.bergsma@radboudumc.nl.
Arjen
A
Bergsma
Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Alessio
A
Murgia
Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Center for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Edith H
EH
Cup
Focal Meditech BV, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Paul P
PP
Verstegen
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Kenneth
K
Meijer
Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Center for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Imelda J
IJ
de Groot
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001711:Biotransformation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004550:Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020391:Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology*
Activities of daily living; Biomechanical phenomena Electromyography; Facio-scapulo-humeral dystrophy; Muscular dystrophies; Rehabilitation; Upper extremity