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Area Engineering
Study of muscle synergies and posturographic parameters during single-leg stance in patients suffering from chronic ankle instability
keywords BALANCE AND POSTURE, EMG, MOTOR CONTROL, NEUROENGINEERING, SIGNAL PROCESSING
Reference persons VALENTINA AGOSTINI, MARCO GHISLIERI
Research Groups Biolab: Ingegneria Biomedica
Description Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI) typically develops after an initial ankle sprain and is characterized by recurrent episodes of ankle sprains and a sensation of the ankle 'giving way.' This condition is often accompanied by pain, weakness, reduced joint range of motion, and decreased self-reported functional capacity during daily and sports activities.
Among the various impairments associated with CAI, balance is significantly affected for two primary reasons. First, the mechanical instability of the ankle, caused by the rupture or damage to ankle ligaments, directly compromises balance. Second, impaired proprioception of the ankle joint further disrupts the ability to maintain stability. Single-Leg Stance (SLS) is a commonly used task for both assessing and training balance, as it challenges the integration of somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs to generate a continuous and effective motor response necessary for managing a reduced base of support. Individuals with CAI often demonstrate greater postural instability and abnormal cortical activity during SLS compared to healthy controls, indicating that CAI also impacts central movement control.
Most studies on muscle activation in CAI individuals have focused on muscles around the ankle. However, examining muscle activation at a single joint can be limiting, as it is well established that the central nervous system coordinates motor responses through muscle synergies—coordinated activations of multiple muscles across different joints.
The aim of this thesis is to assess balance and muscle synergies during an SLS task in both open- and closed-eye conditions in individuals with CAI. Specifically, the study will explore the associations between posturographic parameters and muscle synergy patterns.
See also https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10302369
Required skills Biomedical signal processing; MATLAB or Python programming; Descriptive statistics; Neuroengineering exam with a score above 27.
Notes Applications must be submitted through the online procedure available in the 'Thesis Proposals' section. The thesis assignment will be communicated via email in the days following the proposal deadline, set for 09/21/2024.
For further information about this thesis proposal, please send an email to marco.ghislieri@polito.it.
Deadline 01/03/2025
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