Effects of isometric contraction of the affected-side upper limb in the supine position on the opposite side muscle activity of the body trunk muscles of normal adults.
Yoonhee Choi, Sangyong Lee
PMID 30464361WHAT IT FOUND
Isometric shoulder adduction and flexion produced higher opposite-side trunk muscle activity than abduction and extension in 10 healthy adults.
The study measured muscle signals only, so it does not show that these movements improve trunk control or help stroke patients.
Key findings
01Isometric shoulder adduction and flexion produced higher opposite-side trunk muscle activity than abduction and extension.
02The higher activity was seen in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominis, erector spinae, and multifidus.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
10 healthy adults were studied, and the paper says the results cannot be generalized to every participant. The participants were young adults with average age 21.3 ± 1.5 years, and they had no surgical or neurological damage. The paper says further studies are required in hemiplegic patients before applying the result to stroke. The paper reports only muscle activity values. The title refers to the affected-side upper limb, but the methods used the dominant-side upper limb of healthy adults.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not report funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that shoulder adduction or flexion improves trunk stability or helps stroke recovery. The study measured higher muscle activity in 10 healthy adults, not in patients.