Flexion synergy pattern after stroke how to#

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. That is just one of many examples of how you would break up a synergy pattern.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. To do this, you would want to work on straightening the knee without letting the foot point. Well, the solution to this would be to “isolate” knee movement. In this case, you might notice that when you want to straighten the knee, the foot points. We call this “isolated” joint movement.įor example, someone is struggling with an extensor synergy. “Out of synergy” means that you can perform the desired movement at one joint without the other two joints moving.

Flexion synergy pattern after stroke how to#

The next stage is when you learn how to move “out of synergy”. That being said, ideally, you want to move on to the next stage in the motor recovery process. How do you successfully progress through the stages of motor recovery? And in this case, this might also cause someone to stop moving. Abnormal muscle synergies can be painfulĪnd in some cases, these “unnatural” movements can be painful. And in this case, they might just stop moving and/or avoid movements.

For some people, they don’t understand why their body is doing these strange movements. The second reason this becomes a problem is that “abnormal muscles synergies” can be confusing. Unfortunately, this is the point when you need to IMMEDIATELY start discouraging these abnormal synergy patterns. That being said, they just start moving and returning to “normal activities” thinking that this is the beginning of a “complete recovery”. Therefore, in most cases, people get really excited that their body seems to be recovering. Generally speaking, “in synergy movement” is typically the first sign of movement after a period of no movement. Getting “stuck” in this stage of motor recoveryĪll that being said, this movement problem (that starts out as a non problem), becomes a problem for three main reasons: Movement is exciting This is when the “non-problem”…….becomes a problem. Many times people get “stuck” in this stage. You see, an “abnormal muscle synergy” is one of the stages in the stages of motor recovery. However, it does not start out as a “problem”.

Now, I know I started out by calling this a “movement problem”. Are abnormal muscle synergies really a bad thing? Um, minus the fact you and I are not trying to do ballet 😫Yeah, HUGE problem. What is an abnormal muscle synergy?Ī flexor synergy is when the hip, knee, and ankle all flex at the same time (visualize drawing your knee into your chest).Īn extensor synergy is when all three joints extend (picture a ballerina going up on his/her tippy toe). Abnormal muscle synergies are one of the most common “movement problems” after a stroke or brain injury.