Abstract
Introduction
Spinal cord injury generates muscle weakness, impairing orthostatism and gait. The elliptical trainer (ET) and the ergometric bicycle (EB) are rehabilitation options for this subject. Understanding the pattern of muscle activation generated by these methods is important to answer questions arising from clinical practice.
Objective
To verify muscle activation with ET and EB with and without electromyographic biofeedback in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI).
Methods
Cross-sectional crossover study, enrolled in Clinical Trials (NCT05118971). Subjects with spinal cord injury (incomplete spinal cord injury group - ISCIG) and without spinal cord injury (reference group - RG) were randomized into four groups: elliptical group (EG), elliptical + biofeedback group (EBG), bicycle group (BG) and bicycle + biofeedback group (BBG). Subjects were assessed for functionality by the Functional Independence Measure, injury classification by the ASIA Scale, muscle tone by the modified Ashworth scale, and muscle activity by electromyography.
Results
There was greater activation of the tibialis anterior on cycling compared to other modalities in ISCIG. Biofeedback offered no difference in any of the groups. In RG the vastus medialis was the most activated muscle in all modalities, with more expressive activation in the ET. In this same group, the tibialis anterior was more activated on the EB.
Conclusion
This study showed that both ET and EB are safe and effective in recruiting the muscles investigated, encouraging its use by rehabilitation professionals when the objective is to strength muscles involved in gait.
Electromyography; Motor activity; Physical therapy modalities; Spinal cord injuries
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