Modulação da atividade eletromiográfica durante diferentes comandos de imagética da marcha em paciente com lesão medular completa: estudo de caso

Abstract

Background: It is known that, even in clinically complete spinal cord injuries (SCI), there is some degree of axonal continuity below the level of the lesion. In addition, cortical activation through the imagery of movement facilitates the excitability of corticospinal pathways and reduces intracortical inhibition of the motor cortex. This study intends to observe the pattern of the electric activity of muscles below the level of the injury in a patient with chronic complete SCI from the request of four different kinesthetic commands of gait imagery (GI) during the maintenance of the orthostatic posture. Methods: Patient with complete SCI (T10 level), male gender, 20 years old, 21 months of lesion performed 1 training session with four different GI commands in orthostatic position while electromyography (EMG) was detected of muscles below the level of the lesion: rectus femoris, biceps femoris, long adductor, anterior tibialis, lateral gastrocnemius, medial gastrocnemius, gluteus medius and gluteus maximus. Results: EMG signal intensity modulation was observed for the muscles: rectus femoris, femoral biceps and anterior tibialis bilaterally. With increasing EMG signal intensity during the GI period when compared to baseline. It was also observed, different modulations for the four GI commands. Conclusion: These findings suggest that cortical modulation may occur from the gait imagery/attempt in a chronic complete spinal cord injury person.