Arjen Bergsma1, Alessio Murgia2, Edith H Cup3, Paul P Verstegen4, Kenneth Meijer5, Imelda J de Groot3. 1. Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Center for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: arjen.bergsma@radboudumc.nl. 2. Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Center for Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 4. Focal Meditech BV, Tilburg, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the kinematics and muscle activity of subjects with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) and healthy control subjects during the performance of standardized upper extremity tasks. DESIGN: Exploratory case-control study. SETTING: A movement laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=19) with FSHD (n=11) and healthy control subjects (n=8) were measured. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Kinematic data were recorded using a 3-dimensional motion capturing system. Muscle activities, recorded using electromyography, were obtained from 6 superficial muscles around the glenohumeral joint. Shoulder elevation and elbow flexion angles, and maximum electromyographic activity during the movements as a percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were calculated. RESULTS: Kinematic differences between the FSHD group and the healthy control group were found in the shoulder elevation angle during single shoulder movements and both reaching tasks. In general, subjects with FSHD had higher percentages of muscle activation. The median activity of the trapezius was close to the MVC activity during the single shoulder movements. Moreover, deltoid and pectoralis muscles were also highly active. CONCLUSIONS: Higher activation of the trapezius in subjects with FSHD indicates a mechanism that could help relieve impaired shoulder muscles during arm elevation around shoulder height. Compared with healthy subjects, persons with FSHD activated their shoulder muscles to a greater extent during movements that required arm elevation.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the kinematics and muscle activity of subjects with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) and healthy control subjects during the performance of standardized upper extremity tasks. DESIGN: Exploratory case-control study. SETTING: A movement laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=19) with FSHD (n=11) and healthy control subjects (n=8) were measured. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Kinematic data were recorded using a 3-dimensional motion capturing system. Muscle activities, recorded using electromyography, were obtained from 6 superficial muscles around the glenohumeral joint. Shoulder elevation and elbow flexion angles, and maximum electromyographic activity during the movements as a percentage of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were calculated. RESULTS: Kinematic differences between the FSHD group and the healthy control group were found in the shoulder elevation angle during single shoulder movements and both reaching tasks. In general, subjects with FSHD had higher percentages of muscle activation. The median activity of the trapezius was close to the MVC activity during the single shoulder movements. Moreover, deltoid and pectoralis muscles were also highly active. CONCLUSIONS: Higher activation of the trapezius in subjects with FSHD indicates a mechanism that could help relieve impaired shoulder muscles during arm elevation around shoulder height. Compared with healthy subjects, persons with FSHD activated their shoulder muscles to a greater extent during movements that required arm elevation.