How Paretic and Non-Paretic Ankle Muscles Contract during Walking in Stroke Survivors: New Insight Using Novel Wearable Ultrasound Imaging and Sensing Technology

• Published in: Biosensors (Basel) 2022-05, Vol.12 (5), p.349
• Main Authors: Lyu, Pei-Zhao, Zhu, Ringo Tang-Long, Ling, Yan To, Wang, Li-Ke, Zheng, Yong-Ping, Ma, Christina Zong-Hao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ankle; Brief Report; Data collection; dynamic ultrasound image; Electrodes; Electromyography; Gait; Humans; medial gastrocnemius (MG); muscle activity; Muscle contraction; Muscle function; Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging; Muscles; Muscular function; Physical characteristics; Reliability analysis; Reliability aspects; Reproducibility of Results; Sensors; Skeletal muscle; Statistical analysis; stroke; Stroke - diagnostic imaging; Survival; Survivors; Technology; tibialis anterior (TA); Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound; Walking; Wearable Electronic Devices; Wearable technology
• ISSN: 2079-6374; 2079-6374
• DOI: 10.3390/bios12050349

Abnormal muscle tone and muscle weakness are related to gait asymmetry in stroke survivors. However, the internal muscle morphological changes that occur during walking remain unclear. To address this issue, this study investigated the muscle activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) of both the paretic and non-paretic sides during walking in nine stroke survivors, by simultaneously capturing electromyography (EMG), mechanomyography (MMG), and ultrasound images, and using a validated novel wearable ultrasound imaging and sensing system. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the test−retest reliability of the collected data, and both the main and interaction effects of each “side” (paretic vs. non-paretic) and “gait” factors, in stroke survivors. This study observed significantly good test−retest reliability in the collected data (0.794 ≤ ICC ≤ 0.985), and significant differences existed in both the side and gait factors of the average TA muscle thickness from ultrasound images, and in the gait factors of TA and MG muscle’s MMG and EMG signals (p < 0.05). The muscle morphological characteristics also appeared to be different between the paretic and non-paretic sides on ultrasound images. This study uncovered significantly different internal muscle contraction patterns between paretic and non-paretic sides during walking for TA (7.2% ± 1.6%) and MG (5.3% ± 4.9%) muscles in stroke survivors.