Neuromuscular Control of the Trunk during Sitting Balance

Sitting stability is maintained by continuous and intermittent activation of trunk and lower limb muscles. However, spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in paralysis of the trunk muscles and affects sitting balance. Currently, chest straps and trunk braces are used to correct sitting after SCI. In addition to these passive devices, functional electrical stimulation (FES) could be used to artificially contract trunk muscles and regulate sitting balance. The objectives of this research project were to: (1) investigate neuromuscular synergies of the trunk during perturbed sitting; (2) investigate the effects of anticipation of the perturbation on trunk muscle responses; (3) compare sitting balance between ablebodied individuals and people with SCI; and (4) examine the effects of electrical stimulation of trunk muscles on sitting balance. The first deliverable (Chapter 2) of this project was the development of neural network models that encode trunk muscle responses during perturbed quiet sitting. These models describe complex neuromuscular synergies of the trunk and allow us to understand which muscles are used to stabilize