The understanding of impaired neural control of gait after stroke is important to evaluate mobility impairments focused on improving walking function. Previous studies have shown that the central nervous system may control gait via muscle synergies, which modularly organizes multiple muscles. However, there are insufficient studies to evaluate mobility impairments, using muscle synergy during walking in post-stroke patients. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if the variability of muscle synergies during gait reflects impaired motor performance. Electromyography (EMG) signals were collected from five persons with post-stroke hemiparesis and five similarly age healthy persons, as they walked on a treadmill at a comfortable speed. EMG signals were decomposed using non-negative matrix factorization and the variability of muscle synergies was calculated using a synergy stability index (SSI). We also investigated correlation between the SSI and Fugl-Meyer assessment and Berg Balance Scale, which are clinical evaluation indicators. Post-stroke patients were found to have variable muscle synergies. We also observed a positive proportional relation, between SSI and clinical motor impair evaluation indicators. These results could yield a quantitative assessment of gait after stroke, and provide a causal relationship between internal neuromuscular mechanisms and functional performance.

Ceramic femoral heads are now widely used in Total Hip Replacement (THR). Due to their high biocompatibility and low ductility, ceramic femoral heads are considered to be suitable for young and active patients. However, as in testing the mechanical stability of the femoral head, the conventional proof test (standard ISO 7206-10) has its limit of showing axisymmetric stress distribution on the contact surface, while non-uniformed stress distribution is expected after THR. Since non-uniformed stress distribution can result in the increased probability of ceramic femoral head fracture, it is considerable to evaluate the stress distribution in vivo-like conditions. Therefore, this study simulated the ceramic femoral heads under in vivo-like conditions using finite element method. The maximum stress decreased when increasing the size of the femoral head and stress distribution was concentrated on superior contact surface of the taper region.