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Modulation between bilateral legs and within unilateral muscle synergists of postural muscle activity changes with development and aging

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Abstract

The effect of development and aging on common modulation between bilateral plantarflexors (i.e., the right and left soleus, and the right and left medial gastrocnemius) (bilateral comodulation) and within plantarflexors in one leg (i.e., the right soleus and the right medial gastrocnemius) (unilateral comodulation) was investigated during bipedal quiet standing by comparing electromyography–electromyography (EMG) coherence among three age groups: adult (23–35 years), child (6–8 years), and elderly (60–80 years). The results demonstrate that there was significant coherence between bilateral plantarflexors and within plantarflexors in one leg in the 0- to 4-Hz frequency region in all three age groups. Coherence in this frequency region was stronger in the elderly group than in the adult group, while no difference was found between the adult and child groups. Of particular interest was the finding of significant coherence in bilateral and unilateral EMG recordings in the 8- to 12-Hz frequency region in some subjects in the elderly group, whereas it was not observed in the adult and child groups. These results suggest that aging affects the organization of bilateral and unilateral postural muscle activities (i.e., bilateral and unilateral comodulation) in the plantarflexors during quiet standing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Science Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-0041, Japan

    Hiroki Obata & Kimitaka Nakazawa

  2. Department of Rehabilitation for the Movement Functions, Research Institute of the National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Saitama, Japan

    Hiroki Obata

  3. Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Masaki O. Abe

  4. Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kei Masani

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  1. Hiroki Obata
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  2. Masaki O. Abe
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  3. Kei Masani
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  4. Kimitaka Nakazawa
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Correspondence to Hiroki Obata.

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Obata, H., Abe, M.O., Masani, K. et al. Modulation between bilateral legs and within unilateral muscle synergists of postural muscle activity changes with development and aging. Exp Brain Res 232, 1–11 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-013-3702-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-013-3702-2

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