Muscle effort is best minimized by the right-dominant arm in the gravity field
Gabriel Poirier, Charalambos Papaxanthis, France Mourey, Mélanie Lebigre, Jérémie Gaveau
Abstract
The hypothesis of hemispheric specialization for feedforward and feedback control has been developed and is still debated. Here, taking advantage of recent knowledge on optimal planning and control of arm movements in the gravity field, we recorded kinematics and electromyographic activities during vertical arm movements performed with the dominant and nondominant arms. Our results reveal that the nondominant arm takes advantage of gravity effects to minimize muscle effort, but less than the dominant arm.
Topics & Concepts
Physical medicine and rehabilitationField (mathematics)Computer sciencePhysicsPsychologyMathematicsMedicinePure mathematicsMotor Control and AdaptationChildren's Physical and Motor DevelopmentBalance, Gait, and Falls Prevention