Shin Hyejin, Jeong Taewoong, Chung Yijung
Department of Physical Therapy, Wirye Hospital, Seongnam 13647, Republic of Korea.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea.
Medicina (Kaunas). 2025 Sep 5;61(9):1603. doi: 10.3390/medicina61091603.
: Stroke and hemiplegia disrupts symmetrical activation of skeletal and abdominal muscles, impairing trunk control and functional movement. Although asymmetry is also present in healthy adults, its magnitude and patterns differ with neurological impairment. Understanding trunk muscle symmetry across functional tasks in healthy individuals and patients with stroke is essential for targeted rehabilitation strategies. : A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted including healthy adults and patients with stroke. Muscle activation symmetry of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and multifidus was analyzed across four trunk movements: flexion, extension, and lateral flexion to the dominant or non-dominant side. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA examined main and interaction effects of condition, muscle, and group. : Trunk muscle symmetry was significantly influenced by the movement conditions, and patterns of change differed between groups. While no consistent differences were observed across muscles, specific interactions revealed condition-dependent variations, particularly between abdominal and deep spinal muscles. Lateral flexion elicited the greatest asymmetry, with distinct response patterns in healthy individuals compared with patients with stroke. : This study highlights the importance of addressing movement-specific demands in trunk rehabilitation. Rather than focusing on isolated muscles, interventions should consider the dynamic and condition-dependent nature of symmetry to optimize functional recovery in patients with stroke.
中风和偏瘫会破坏骨骼肌和腹部肌肉的对称激活，损害躯干控制和功能性运动。虽然健康成年人中也存在不对称性，但其程度和模式因神经损伤而异。了解健康个体和中风患者在功能性任务中的躯干肌肉对称性对于制定有针对性的康复策略至关重要。：进行了一项比较性横断面研究，纳入了健康成年人和中风患者。分析了腹直肌、腹外斜肌、腹内斜肌和多裂肌在四种躯干运动（前屈、后伸以及向优势侧或非优势侧侧屈）中的肌肉激活对称性。采用双向重复测量方差分析来检验条件、肌肉和组别的主效应及交互效应。：躯干肌肉对称性受运动条件的显著影响，且变化模式在不同组之间存在差异。虽然各肌肉之间未观察到一致的差异，但特定的交互作用揭示了依赖于条件的变化，尤其是腹部肌肉和深部脊柱肌肉之间。侧屈引发的不对称性最大，与中风患者相比，健康个体具有明显不同的反应模式。：本研究强调了在躯干康复中满足特定运动需求的重要性。干预措施不应只关注孤立的肌肉，而应考虑对称性的动态性和依赖于条件的性质，以优化中风患者的功能恢复。
