Motor adaption during repeated motor control testing: Attenuated muscle activation without changes in response latencies

Christopher M. Hill, Sam Wilson, J. Grant Mouser, Paul T. Donahue, Harish Chander

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

With repeated exposure to postural perturbations the human postural control system can adapt and create efficient strategies to counteract these perturbations. The Motor Control Test (MCT) is commonly used to elicit reactionary postural movements. Though this device has been assessed for possible learning effects and reliability of composite scores, yet no study has evaluated possible neuromuscular alterations repeated bouts might elicit. Twenty participants (age: 25 ± 4.73 years; height: 183.8 ± 8.5 cm; mass: 85.2 ± 15.6 kg) volunteered and, following familiarization, performed five full-randomized MCTs over six testing sessions. The first five sessions occurred on consecutive days, with the sixth occurring two days later. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded on right lower extremity knee flexors and extensors, and ankle plantarflexors and dorsiflexors. Response latencies and Mean and RMS muscle activity were calculated and analyzed using 1 × 5 (within days) and 1 × 6 (across days) RM ANOVA. Decreases in muscle activation of proximal musculature were noted between days and trials within days, however these changes were not maintained after the two-day retention period. No differences were detected for MCT scores. These results suggest repeated MCT exposure modifies neuromuscular responses to maintain similar reaction time through a postural control strategy shift.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)96-102
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
Volume41
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2018

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Neuroscience (miscellaneous)
  • Biophysics
  • Clinical Neurology

Keywords

  • Adaptation
  • Motor control test
  • Postural control
  • Posturography

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