![]() The brain is in charge of coordinating these movements, making sure the muscle groups do not accidentally conflict with each other. It does this by sending inhibitory or excitatory signals to the right muscle groups so they contract in a way that is synchronized and efficient.įor example, to pick up a fork, the triceps must activate to extend your arm, which means your bicep muscle must relax while this is happening. The antagonist muscles (the muscles that inhibit the movement) must relax.The agonist muscles (the muscles that initiate the movement) must contract.To complete a successful movement, two things must happen at once: ![]() ![]() These movement patterns are called synergies, and are responsible for muscle contraction and motions that appear smooth and controlled. What Are Synergy Patterns?Ĭoordinated muscle movements are a result of different muscle groups working together. To help you better understand flexor synergy patterns, this article will explain the cause of synergistic movements and how to work through them. However, there is hope to improve overall function through consistent rehabilitation. While flexor synergy can be a sign of recovery, this can also inhibit movements and daily activities such as reaching and self-care. ![]() For example, if you try to move your shoulder, your elbow and wrist might contract as well. Also called flexion synergy patterns, these synergistic movements result from multiple muscle contractions that are triggered at once. As a result, working with a physical therapist to identify the optimal solution is your best bet.Īs you continue to exercise, you should ultimately be able to attain normal mobility and function - or as near to it as feasible.Although flexor synergy patterns after stroke can be frustrating to deal with, they may be a sign of improvement. Of course, this may be difficult, particularly when motions are abnormal. The more you exercise your injured muscles, the more your brain can generate new neural connections that will allow muscle groups to communicate again. When severe spasticity and synergistic movement prohibit a stroke survivor from moving at all, it’s evident that any sort of movement is preferable to none when you’re giving it your all and concentrating on the correct form every time.Īs long as you do your hardest to employ proper form every time you exercise, you will continue to promote neuroplasticity and improve. Most therapists would agree that doing rehab activities poorly (i.e., with synergistic movement patterns) is not desirable since it may perpetuate these bad movement patterns. It is possible to have several kinds of synergy patterns, such as flexion synergy patterns (which were explained before), extension synergy patterns, and other kinds of synergy patterns, depending on the particular muscle groups that are cooperating with one another. These patterns can be caused by the brain trying to adapt to its new state. However, in some instances, such as after a stroke or another neurological condition, the brain’s ability to control individual muscle groups may be impaired, which can lead to the development of abnormal or compensatory synergy patterns. This is because the body naturally employs particular muscle groups to produce certain motions in cooperation with other groups of muscles. Synergy patterns are not exclusive to people who have had a stroke they may also be seen in healthy persons. To put it another way, when a synergy pattern is present, several muscles collaborate in order to carry out a certain action, as opposed to each muscle acting separately to carry out the movement. The term “synergy patterns” refers to the manner in which several muscle groups in the body create movement by cooperating with one another, also known as “synergizing.” They are distinguished from the isolated activity of individual muscle groups by the coordinated action of many muscle groups rather than by the activity of individual muscle groups acting alone.
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