Therapeutic Lower Extremity Power Training Alters the Sensorimotor Cortical Activity of Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

Busboom, Morgan; Corr, Brad; Reelfs, Anna; Trevarrow, Mike; Reelfs, Heidi; Baker, Sarah; Bergwell, Hannah; Wilson, Tony W.; Moreau, Noelle G.; Kurz, Max J.

doi:10.1016/j.arrct.2022.100180

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(48 reference statements)

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“…The clinical gains seen after power training have primarily been attributed to alterations in the muscle and/or activation of the motor cortices. 17 , 56 Our results imply that improvements in muscular strength and power seen after the training might also be partially attributed to alterations in the somatosensory cortical processing. Power training requires the participant to pay attention to the lower extremity’s performance to gauge the speed of the concentric contraction as they learn how to effectively recruit the available motor units and coordinate the lower extremity joint movements to meet the task demands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…Our recent magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging investigation has begun to probe the possible neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for the improved muscular performance. 17 These results suggest that power training has the potential to result in changes in the sensorimotor cortical activation that are linked with the ability to produce greater leg muscular power. Hence, suggesting that the driver of the muscular performance gains might be associated with improved motor cortex function.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Although it is recognized that power training can promote muscular plasticity, 13,15 far less consideration has been given to the potential changes in the nervous system or the origin driving these changes. Our recent magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging investigation has begun to probe the possible neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for the improved muscular performance 17 . These results suggest that power training has the potential to result in changes in the sensorimotor cortical activation that are linked with the ability to produce greater leg muscular power.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These investigations have consistently found similar outcomes for youth with CP, in that the somatosensory‐evoked cortical activity for both upper and lower extremities is attenuated and, in some cases, has longer response latencies. 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 Although our recent MEG neuroimaging investigation has identified that power training can alter the sensorimotor cortical activity, 17 its influence on the sensory processing deficits seen in this patient population remains unknown. It is possible that the heightened feedback from the sensory afferent during the high‐velocity leg performance might provide critical information for learning how to recruit the motor units.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Power training alters somatosensory cortical activity of youth with cerebral palsy

Bergwell

Trevarrow

Corr

et al. 2022

Ann Clin Transl Neurol

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Objective Our prior magnetoencephalographic (MEG) investigations demonstrate that persons with cerebral palsy (CP) have weaker somatosensory cortical activity than neurotypical (NT) controls, which is associated with reduced muscular strength and mobility. Power training can improve lower extremity isokinetic strength, muscular power, and walking performance of youth with CP. Potentially, these clinically relevant improvements are partially driven by changes in somatosensory processing. The objective of this investigation was to determine if power training has complementary changes in muscular function and somatosensory cortical activity in youth with CP. Methods A cohort of youth with CP (N = 11; age = 15.90 ± 1.1 years) and NT controls (N = 10; Age = 15.93 ± 2.48 years) participated in this investigation. Youth with CP underwent 24 power training sessions. Pre‐post bilateral leg press 1‐repetition maximum (1RM), peak power production, 10‐m walking speed, and distance walked 1‐min were used as outcome measures. MEG neuroimaging assessed the changes in somatosensory cortical activity while at rest. NT controls only underwent a baseline MEG assessment. Results Youth with CP had a 56% increase in 1RM (p < 0.001), a 33% increase in peak power production (p = 0.019), and a 4% improvement in 1‐min walk (p = 0.029). Notably, there was a 46% increase in somatosensory cortical activity (p = 0.02). Interpretation These results are the first to show that power training is associated with improvements in muscular function, walking performance, and the resting somatosensory cortical activity in individuals with CP. This treatment approach might be advantageous due to the potential to promote cortical and muscular plasticity, which appear to have carryover effects for improved walking performance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Power training alters somatosensory cortical activity of youth with cerebral palsy

Bergwell

Trevarrow

Corr

et al. 2022

Ann Clin Transl Neurol

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Motor function and gait decline in individuals with cerebral palsy during adulthood: a narrative review of potential physiological determinants

Gravholt,

Fernandez,

Bessaguet

et al. 2024

Eur J Appl Physiol

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Adults with cerebral palsy exhibit uncharacteristic cortical oscillations during an adaptive sensorimotor control task

Hinton,

Busboom,

Embury

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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Prior research has shown that the sensorimotor cortical oscillations are uncharacteristic in persons with cerebral palsy (CP); however, it is unknown if these altered cortical oscillations have an impact on adaptive sensorimotor control. This investigation evaluated the cortical dynamics when the motor action needs to be changed “on-the-fly”. Adults with CP and neurotypical controls completed a sensorimotor task that required either proactive or reactive control while undergoing magnetoencephalography (MEG). When compared with the controls, the adults with CP had a weaker beta (18–24 Hz) event-related desynchronization (ERD), post-movement beta rebound (PMBR, 16–20 Hz) and theta (4–6 Hz) event-related synchronization (ERS) in the sensorimotor cortices. In agreement with normative work, the controls exhibited differences in the strength of the sensorimotor gamma (66–84 Hz) ERS during proactive compared to reactive trials, but similar condition-wise changes were not seen in adults with CP. Lastly, the adults with CP who had a stronger theta ERS tended to have better hand dexterity, as indicated by the Box and Blocks Test and Purdue Pegboard Test. These results may suggest that alterations in the theta and gamma cortical oscillations play a role in the altered hand dexterity and uncharacteristic adaptive sensorimotor control noted in adults with CP.

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Therapeutic Lower Extremity Power Training Alters the Sensorimotor Cortical Activity of Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

Cited by 3 publications

References 38 publications

Power training alters somatosensory cortical activity of youth with cerebral palsy

Power training alters somatosensory cortical activity of youth with cerebral palsy

Motor function and gait decline in individuals with cerebral palsy during adulthood: a narrative review of potential physiological determinants

Adults with cerebral palsy exhibit uncharacteristic cortical oscillations during an adaptive sensorimotor control task

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