TY - JOUR
T1 - Activity patterns of extrinsic finger flexors and extensors during movements of instructed and non-instructed fingers
AU - van Beek, Nathalie
AU - Stegeman, Dick F.
AU - van den Noort, Josien C.
AU - Veeger, DirkJan
AU - Maas, Huub
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The fingers of the human hand cannot be controlled fully independently. This phenomenon may have a neurological as well as a mechanical basis. Despite previous studies, the neuromechanics of finger movements are not fully understood. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the activation and coactivation patterns of finger specific flexor and extensor muscle regions during instructed single finger flexion and (2) to determine the relationship between enslaved finger movements and respective finger muscle activation. In 9 healthy subjects (age 22-29), muscle activation was assessed during single finger flexion using a 90 surface electromyography electrode grid placed over the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and the extensor digitorum (ED). We found (1) no significant differences in muscle activation timing between fingers, (2) considerable muscle activity in flexor and extensor regions associated with the non-instructed fingers and (3) no correlation between the muscle activations and corresponding movement of non-instructed fingers. A clear disparity was found between the movement pattern of the non-instructed fingers and the activity pattern of the corresponding muscle regions. This suggests that mechanical factors, such as intertendinous and myofascial connections, may also affect finger movement independency and need to be taken into consideration when studying finger movement.
AB - The fingers of the human hand cannot be controlled fully independently. This phenomenon may have a neurological as well as a mechanical basis. Despite previous studies, the neuromechanics of finger movements are not fully understood. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the activation and coactivation patterns of finger specific flexor and extensor muscle regions during instructed single finger flexion and (2) to determine the relationship between enslaved finger movements and respective finger muscle activation. In 9 healthy subjects (age 22-29), muscle activation was assessed during single finger flexion using a 90 surface electromyography electrode grid placed over the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and the extensor digitorum (ED). We found (1) no significant differences in muscle activation timing between fingers, (2) considerable muscle activity in flexor and extensor regions associated with the non-instructed fingers and (3) no correlation between the muscle activations and corresponding movement of non-instructed fingers. A clear disparity was found between the movement pattern of the non-instructed fingers and the activity pattern of the corresponding muscle regions. This suggests that mechanical factors, such as intertendinous and myofascial connections, may also affect finger movement independency and need to be taken into consideration when studying finger movement.
KW - Coactivation
KW - EMG
KW - Kinematics
KW - Muscle compartmentalization
KW - Neuromuscular control
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85014564208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.02.006
DO - 10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.02.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85014564208
SN - 1050-6411
VL - 38 (2018)
SP - 187
EP - 196
JO - Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology
JF - Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology
ER -