Posters
Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Biomedical Science
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Temporary deafferentation (TD) is an approach that has been investigated in rehabilitation practices to improve motor function in people with spinal cord injuries. The overall goal of temporary deafferentation is to voluntarily reduce sensory input into the nervous system to improve efferent output. Temporary deafferentation is typically achieved using either topical or injectable anesthetics. Recently, our group sought to optimize a protocol for temporary deafferentation using topical anesthetic cream, and results suggested that temporary deafferentation was achieved 50 minutes after anesthetic cream application. Here, we aimed to determine if our optimized protocol impacted limb electromyography (EMG) after the intervention. We focused our study on the biceps and triceps muscles, due to future implementation in populations with upper limb motor disabilities.
Method: Twenty healthy subjects were recruited to participate in a single-session study. Using LabChart, subjects' electromyography (EMG; root-mean-square) of the biceps and triceps were assessed before and after intervention with temporary deafferentation and task training. Temporary deafferentation was achieved by applying 10 cc anesthetic cream to the subject’s right biceps for 50 minutes. Following temporary deafferentation, the subject completed 30 minutes of mild-to-moderate upper limb training tasks with their right arm.
Results: An ANOVA to test the main effect of the intervention revealed that healthy participants’ triceps muscles excitability significantly decreased by a small to medium effect size, d = .31, F(1, 329) = 7.66, p < .01. Descriptive analysis showed five out of twenty participants did improve after the intervention (d = .24), and fifteen did not (d = .49). Whether the intervention influenced triceps muscles excitability depended on participants, X2 = 352, p 1, BMI2, fat percentage3, and arm width4, p < .001, including Male gender5, p < .02. X2 = 179.191, 3522,3,4, 5.705.
Conclusion: Results show the intervention improved triceps muscle excitability for selected healthy participants. Preliminary findings suggest the protocol’s ability to accelerate rehabilitative outcomes for people with upper limb motor disabilities, which will be examined in the next phase of the study; additionally, we aim to specify the main effect of TD, separating the task training effects.
Academic/Professional Position
Staff
Academic/Professional Position (Other)
Undergraduate
Mentor/PI Department
Neuroscience
Recommended Citation
Erazo Macias, Chelsea; Salinas, Daniel; Lozano Garcia, Monica; Cuello, Victoria; and Baker, Kelsey, "The Effectiveness of Temporary Deafferentation for Upper Limb Rehabilitation" (2023). Research Symposium. 23.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2022/posters/23
Included in
The Effectiveness of Temporary Deafferentation for Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Background: Temporary deafferentation (TD) is an approach that has been investigated in rehabilitation practices to improve motor function in people with spinal cord injuries. The overall goal of temporary deafferentation is to voluntarily reduce sensory input into the nervous system to improve efferent output. Temporary deafferentation is typically achieved using either topical or injectable anesthetics. Recently, our group sought to optimize a protocol for temporary deafferentation using topical anesthetic cream, and results suggested that temporary deafferentation was achieved 50 minutes after anesthetic cream application. Here, we aimed to determine if our optimized protocol impacted limb electromyography (EMG) after the intervention. We focused our study on the biceps and triceps muscles, due to future implementation in populations with upper limb motor disabilities.
Method: Twenty healthy subjects were recruited to participate in a single-session study. Using LabChart, subjects' electromyography (EMG; root-mean-square) of the biceps and triceps were assessed before and after intervention with temporary deafferentation and task training. Temporary deafferentation was achieved by applying 10 cc anesthetic cream to the subject’s right biceps for 50 minutes. Following temporary deafferentation, the subject completed 30 minutes of mild-to-moderate upper limb training tasks with their right arm.
Results: An ANOVA to test the main effect of the intervention revealed that healthy participants’ triceps muscles excitability significantly decreased by a small to medium effect size, d = .31, F(1, 329) = 7.66, p < .01. Descriptive analysis showed five out of twenty participants did improve after the intervention (d = .24), and fifteen did not (d = .49). Whether the intervention influenced triceps muscles excitability depended on participants, X2 = 352, p 1, BMI2, fat percentage3, and arm width4, p < .001, including Male gender5, p < .02. X2 = 179.191, 3522,3,4, 5.705.
Conclusion: Results show the intervention improved triceps muscle excitability for selected healthy participants. Preliminary findings suggest the protocol’s ability to accelerate rehabilitative outcomes for people with upper limb motor disabilities, which will be examined in the next phase of the study; additionally, we aim to specify the main effect of TD, separating the task training effects.