Ankle antagonist coactivation in the double-support phase of walking: Stroke vs. healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
Lesions in ipsilateral systems related to postural control in the ipsilesional side may justify the lower performance of stroke subjects during walking.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze bilateral ankle antagonist coactivation during double support in stroke subjects.


METHODS
Sixteen (8 females; 8 males) subjects with a first isquemic stroke and 22 controls (12 females; 10 males) participated in this study. The double-support phase was assessed through ground reaction forces and the electromyography of ankle muscles was assessed in both limbs.


RESULTS
The ipsilesional limb presented statistically significant differences from the control when assuming specific roles during double support. The tibialis anterior and soleus pair was the one in which this atypical behavior was more pronounced.


CONCLUSIONS
The ipsilesional limb presents a dysfunctional behavior when a higher postural control activity was demanded.
a Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Instituto Politécnico do Porto by Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Científica de Fisioterapia, Centro de Estudos de Movimento e Atividade Humana , Vila Nova de Gaia , Portugal .
Augusta
A
Silva
a Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Instituto Politécnico do Porto by Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Científica de Fisioterapia, Centro de Estudos de Movimento e Atividade Humana , Vila Nova de Gaia , Portugal .
Andreia S P
AS
Sousa
a Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Instituto Politécnico do Porto by Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Científica de Fisioterapia, Centro de Estudos de Movimento e Atividade Humana , Vila Nova de Gaia , Portugal .
Cláudia
C
Silva
b Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica e Gestão Industrial, Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal .
João Manuel R S
JM
Tavares
c Escola Superior da Tecnologia de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Área Científica de Física, Centro de Estudos de Movimento e Atividade Humana , Vila Nova de Gaia , Portugal , and.
Rubim
R
Santos
d Laboratório de Biomecânica do Porto, Faculdade de Desporto , Universidade do Porto , Porto , Portugal.
Filipa
F
Sousa
D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D011187:Posture; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
Antagonist coactivation ratio; double support; leading limb; stroke; trailing limb; walking