Stroke patients often have impaired walking ability, which is thought to be influenced by abnormal lower limb muscle activity patterns.Abnormal muscle activity patterns during walking in stroke patients are confirmed in the stance phase or swing phase, but vary from individual case to individual case.Here, the researchers identified three subtypes by having stroke patients under study perform gait tests and classify abnormal patterns of muscle activity from the aspect of muscle synergy.

　Different gait characteristics were revealed for each subtype.In the subtype with an abnormal pattern of muscle synergy during the stance phase, the extension angle of the lower limbs on the paralyzed side decreased during comfortable walking.In the subtype in which an abnormal pattern of muscle synergy was observed during the swing phase, the flexion angle of the lower limbs on the paralyzed side decreased during comfortable walking.Finally, in the subtypes with abnormal patterns of muscle synergies during the swing phase, it was found that walking with the paralyzed lower limbs swinging out immediately improved the abnormal patterns of muscle synergies.

　Since the kinematic parameters during comfortable walking differed according to each subtype, we will clarify the recovery process of the neural base of the subtype and the abnormal pattern of muscle synergy. It is said that it is necessary to go.

Paper information:[PLOS ONE] Merged swing-muscle synergies and their relation to walking characteristics in subacute post-stroke patients: An observational study