Botulinum toxin type A was recently introduced for treatment of biceps-triceps muscle cocontraction, which compromises elbow function in children with obstetrical brachial plexopathy. This is our preliminary experience with this new approach. Eight children were treated with 2-3 U/kg of botulinum toxin injected in the triceps (4 patients) and biceps (4 patients) muscle, divided in 2 or 3 sites....

We analysed nine patients who had had a megaprosthesis implanted into the distal femur and knee joint for treatment of sarcomas. Data obtained from the leg operated on were compared with those from the contralateral side and healthy volunteers. Gait data, kinematics, ground reaction forces and the EMG from five muscles around the knee joint were analysed by means of a video-based analysis syste...

Rapid, self paced and self terminated elbow flexion movements were studied in a group of 10 patients with dystonia affecting the arms. The movements were slower and for small amplitude movements, more variable than those recorded in normal subjects. The duration of the first agonist burst was prolonged, even when compared with normal subjects deliberately moving slowly. Cocontraction of agonist...

Spasticity is one of the major complaints of patients with spinal cord injuries. It has negative effects such as limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs), pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, instability, joint contractures, pressure ulcers, and infection, and decreases gait ability through changes in timing of gait-related muscle contraction and cocontraction [1,2]. Spasticity, also, is a m...

High bandwidth contacts and unforeseen deviations from planned actions are common in early human development. We here present the GummiArm, an open-source robot with characteristics that make it interesting for studying development, human motor control, and real-world applications that require robustness and safety. Joints with antagonist actuators and rubbery tendons provide passive compliance...

Locusts possess an identified neuron, the descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD), conveying visual information about impending collision from the brain to thoracic motor centers. We built a telemetry system to simultaneously record, in freely behaving animals, the activity of the DCMD and of motoneurons involved in jump execution. Cocontraction of antagonistic leg muscles, a required...

Muscle fatigue is considered as one of the major risk factor causing Musculo-Skeletal Disorder (MSD). To avoid MSD the study of muscle fatigue is very important. For the study of muscle fatigue a new model is developed by modifying the Ruina Ma’s dynamic muscle fatigue model and introducing the muscle co-contraction factor ‘n’ in this model.The aim of this paper is to experimentally validate a ...