EFFECT OF MOTOR DUAL TASK ON THE ELECTROMYOGRAPHY OF LOWER LIMB AND TRUNK MUSCLES DURING GAIT IN CEREBRAL PALSY AND HEALTHY SUBJECTS

This study aimed to investigate the effect of motor dual task on the
electromyographic activity of lower limb and trunk muscles during gait in cerebral palsy (CP) and
healthy subjects.
Materials & Methods: 10 patients with CP and 10 healthy matched subjects participated in this study
voluntarily. Using an EMG USB2+ system and bipolar electrodes, the electromiyographic activity of
biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and erector spinea at L3 level (L3) was recorded during gait
with and without motor dual task. The gathered signals were processed using OT Biolab software. SPSS
22 software and ANOVA with significance level of 0.05 were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Results showed that CP patients had greater normalized EMG of right and left L3 and left BF
and RF muscle than control group. Motor dual task increased muscle activity in both groups (p=0.001)
and had the same effect on the EMG of both right and left sides of healthy subjects. However, in the CP
patients, motor dual task resulted in a higher muscle activity on the left side than the right side (p=0.01).
Conclusion: Motor dual task increases EMG activity of RF, BF, and L3 muscle of CP patient's more
than healthy subjects. This increase can be attributed to the greater attempt of these subjects to maintain
body posture and dynamic balance. So, focus on the motor dual task can be recommended in evaluating
and designing an appropriate exercise program for CP patients.