UNLABELLED The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different muscle length and visual feedback information (VFI) on accuracy of isometric contraction of elbow flexors in men after an ischemic stroke (IS). MATERIALS AND METHODS Maximum voluntary muscle contraction force (MVMCF) and accurate determinate muscle force (20% of MVMCF) developed during an isometric contraction of elbow f...

Simultaneous voluntary contractions of antagonistic pairs (co-contraction) produce resistive forces that act against each other (Maeo et al., 2013c). It has been reported that a training program in which subjects performed voluntary co-contractions of elbow flexors and extensors with maximal effort produced significant increases in the strength capability of both muscle groups, without the use ...

The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of maximal muscle torques at individual stages of development of athletes and to determine the relationship between muscle torques, fighting methods and the level of sports performance. The activity of 25 judo contestants during judo combats and the effectiveness of actions were evaluated. Maximum muscle torques in flexors/extensors of...

OBJECTIVE To compare the Tardieu Scale as a clinical measure of spasticity after stroke with the Ashworth Scale. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS Sixteen people, living in the community three years after their stroke. MAIN MEASURES The Ashworth Scale and Tardieu Scale as well as laboratory measures of spasticity (stretch-induced electromyographic (EMG) activity) and contracture ...

The extent and characteristics of muscle fatigue of different muscle groups when subjected to a similar fatiguing task may differ. Thirteen healthy young men performed sustained contractions at 50% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force until task failure, with four different muscle groups, over two sessions. Per session, one upper limb and one lower limb muscle group were tested (knee exten...

It has been shown that gibbons are able to brachiate with very low mechanical costs. The conversion of muscle activity into smooth, purposeful movement of the limb depends on the morphometry of muscles and their mechanical action on the skeleton. Despite the gibbon's reputation for excellence in brachiation, little information is available regarding either its gross musculoskeletal anatomy or i...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the reliability of a new scale, the Triple Spasticity Scale (TSS), for assessing spasticity in stroke, through measurement of affected elbow flexors and ankle plantar flexors of hemiplegic patients with stroke, and to compare the new scale with commonly used scales. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Inpatients at a rehabilitation hospital. PATIENTS Seventy-one i...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether resting joint angle is indicative of severity of spasticity of the elbow flexors in chronic stroke survivors. METHODS Seventeen hemiparetic stroke subjects (male: n = 13; female: n = 4; age: 37-89 years; 11 right and 6 left hemiplegia; averaged 54.8 months after stroke, ranging 12-107 months) participated in the study. The number of subjects with modified Ashwort...

BACKGROUND Aging promotes neuromuscular loss, significantly reducing muscle strength. The magnitude of loss of strength seems to be different between the limbs, probably because of differences in activities of daily living (ADL). Therefore, the present study compared the muscle strength of the elbow flexors and knee extensors in younger (n = 7, mean age 23.3 ± 1.2 years) and older (n = 5, mean ...

BACKGROUND the central tenet of the neurofacilitatory approach to stroke therapy is that muscle tone needs to be normal before normal movement can occur. A reliable clinical measure of the full spectrum of muscle tone is needed to test: (i) the purported relationship between muscle tone, other motor impairments and disability, and (ii) the effectiveness of stroke therapy to restore movement. ...