Author(s): VISSER, A., BÜCHEL, D., LEHMANN, T., BAUMEISTER, J., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF PADERBORN, Country: GERMANY, Abstract-ID: 2313

INTRODUCTION:
Passive movement in early injury rehabilitation aims to increase the range of motion and restore capabilities for active movement control. Passive movement activates motor brain areas [1], which may address the neurophysiological deficits associated with joint injuries. Comparing passive and active movement could provide insights into how passive movement contributes to the recovery of active motor control. This study aimed to describe differences in spectral brain dynamics in central motor areas between passive and active knee extension using a mobile electroencephalography (EEG) approach.
METHODS:
A total of 22 healthy participants performed knee extensions in passive and active manners. Each participant completed 10 blocks of 12 trials with a pause of 3 seconds before each extension. Torque and EEG oscillations were recorded during the experiment. EEG data was analyzed using independent component analysis to identify independent sources of brain activity. For investigating the effects of passive and active knee extension on motor brain activity, event-related spectral perturbations (ERSPs) in the fronto-central cluster were computed. Statistical comparisons were conducted using permutation-based analysis with false discovery rate correction (p < 0.01).
RESULTS:
ERSPs in the central motor cluster revealed significant differences between passive and active knee extension before and during movement. While alpha desynchronization in the active condition started 500 ms before movement initiation, it started with a delay of 250 ms in the passive condition. In the theta frequency band, a significant increase in synchronization was observed immediately after movement onset (50 to 250 ms) in the passive compared to the active condition.
CONCLUSION:
The results show differences in movement-related spectral brain dynamics between active and passive knee extension in healthy adults. Active movements elicit significant alpha desynchronization before movement onset, potentially linked to movement planning. In contrast, passive movements lead to an increased theta synchronization after movement onset, suggesting augmented sensory processing related to motor control [2]. Considering the different cortical patterns of passive and active movement, further studies should look deeper into the functional relevance of passive movements in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.

REFERENCES
[1] Onishi, H. (2018). Cortical excitability following passive movement. Physical Therapy Research, 21(2), 23–32.
[2] Varghese, J. P., Marlin, A., B. Beyer, K., Staines, W. R., Mochizuki, G., & McIlroy, W. E. (2014). Frequency characteristics of cortical activity associated with perturbations to upright stability. Neuroscience Letters, 578, 33–38.