Sit to Stand Timing & Coordination
This lab explores the coordination and timing of muscle activation during a sit-to-stand transition using surface EMG. By examining the onset and sequence of activation in key lower limb and trunk muscles, students gain practical insight into motor control strategies, muscle recruitment patterns, and how the body regulates force to perform this fundamental movement.
Why Analyze Timing & Coordination
Timing and coordination are essential for:
- Identifying neuromuscular impairments that affect movement efficiency.
- Detecting compensatory strategies that develop after injury or with aging.
- Understanding functional deficits linked to neurological conditions.
By examining the sequence and onset of muscle activation during a sit-to-stand transition, students and practitioners can gain valuable insight into how the body generates and regulates force to perform this fundamental movement.
Learning Objectives for Students
Muscle Activation Onset & Sequence
- Learn how to identify when key trunk and lower limb muscles activate and in what order during the sit-to-stand transition
Motor Control Strategies
- Explore how the body coordinates multiple muscles to shift the center of mass, maintain balance, and generate force for rising from a seated position.
Clinical & Research Applications
- Understand how timing and coordination analysis can reveal neuromuscular impairments, compensatory strategies, and functional deficits relevant to rehab, aging, and performance.
