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Motor Compensation During Lower Limb Pedaling After Stroke, Brice Thomas Cleland Jul 2018

Motor Compensation During Lower Limb Pedaling After Stroke, Brice Thomas Cleland

Dissertations (1934 -)

Long-term motor dysfunction in the lower limb is common after stroke. One potential contributor is motor compensation, a behavior in which functions originally performed by the paretic limb are performed by the non-paretic limb. Compensation in chronic stroke may contribute to long-term motor dysfunction by limiting functional ability, impairing future recovery, and eliciting maladaptive neuroplasticity. The purpose of this dissertation was to describe the impact of compensation on motor function and brain activation during lower limb pedaling and identify elements that produce this behavior. To achieve this purpose, we evaluated muscle activation and motor performance when compensation was prevented. During …


Muscle Coordination Contributes To Function After Stroke; Proprioception Contributes To Control Of Posture, Movement, Maria Bengtson Oct 2017

Muscle Coordination Contributes To Function After Stroke; Proprioception Contributes To Control Of Posture, Movement, Maria Bengtson

Dissertations (1934 -)

More than half of stroke survivors experience persistent upper extremity motor impairments that can negatively impact quality of life and independence. Effective use of the upper extremity requires coordination of agonist/antagonist muscle pairs, as well as coordination of multiple control actions for stabilizing and moving the arm. In this dissertation, I present three studies in which I recorded isometric torque production, single joint movement and stabilization, and clinical measures of function and impairments after stroke to evaluate the extent to which changes in coordination of agonist/antagonist muscles and of sequential control actions contribute to deficits after stroke. In Aim 1, …


The Relationship Of Spasticity And Impairments In Force Regulation And Neuromuscular Fatigue Post Stroke, Reivian Berrios Barillas Oct 2015

The Relationship Of Spasticity And Impairments In Force Regulation And Neuromuscular Fatigue Post Stroke, Reivian Berrios Barillas

Dissertations (1934 -)

Hyperreflexia that causes muscle spasticity may contribute to limitations in force regulation and walking ability post stroke. Additionally, neuromuscular fatigue may reduce force regulation, which is important because fatigue can assist to strengthen muscles that control walking. Hyperreflexia may be caused by cortical disinhibition that allows Ia afferents to amplify excitatory synaptic inputs to motoneuron pools. Cortical disinhibition is presumably caused by stroke-related motor cortex damage. Although, other excitatory synaptic sources to motoneurons contribute to motor control, hyperreflexia may be one contributor that affects stroke survivors. However, hyperreflexia is reported infrequently to effect force regulation post stroke. The goal was …