Electromyographic alterations of trunk muscle of patients with post-stroke hemiparesis

Stroke is the main cause of chronic disability in adults, but few studies evaluated the trunk motor activity in affected subjects. To compare the myoelectrical activity of trunk muscle in hemiparetic and control subjects. Eight hemiparetic and eight control subjects were assessed during lower extremities flexion and trunk rotation in supine position; stand up and rise up upper extremities in seated position. Paretic rectus abdominis presented a higher activation than control group (p=0.031) during lower extremities elevation. Obliquus externus abdominis showed a bilateral higher activation during lower extremities elevation than rotation activities (p=0.014 and p=0.002, respectively). There was no difference in extension activities comparison. Trunk flexor muscles of hemiparetic subjects demonstrated motor alterations in rectus abdominis of paretic side and compensations were used with Obliquus externus.