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Valli G, Ritsche P, Casolo A, Negro F, De Vito G. Tutorial: Analysis of central and peripheral motor unit properties from decomposed High-Density surface EMG signals with openhdemg. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2024; 74:102850. [PMID: 38065045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2023.102850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
High-Density surface Electromyography (HD-sEMG) is the most established technique for the non-invasive analysis of single motor unit (MU) activity in humans. It provides the possibility to study the central properties (e.g., discharge rate) of large populations of MUs by analysis of their firing pattern. Additionally, by spike-triggered averaging, peripheral properties such as MUs conduction velocity can be estimated over adjacent regions of the muscles and single MUs can be tracked across different recording sessions. In this tutorial, we guide the reader through the investigation of MUs properties from decomposed HD-sEMG recordings by providing both the theoretical knowledge and practical tools necessary to perform the analyses. The practical application of this tutorial is based on openhdemg, a free and open-source community-based framework for the automated analysis of MUs properties built on Python 3 and composed of different modules for HD-sEMG data handling, visualisation, editing, and analysis. openhdemg is interfaceable with most of the available recording software, equipment or decomposition techniques, and all the built-in functions are easily adaptable to different experimental needs. The framework also includes a graphical user interface which enables users with limited coding skills to perform a robust and reliable analysis of MUs properties without coding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Valli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy; Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Paul Ritsche
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Andrea Casolo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Francesco Negro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe De Vito
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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Gogeascoechea A, Ornelas-Kobayashi R, Yavuz US, Sartori M. Characterization of Motor Unit Firing and Twitch Properties for Decoding Musculoskeletal Force in the Human Ankle Joint In Vivo. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2023; 31:4040-4050. [PMID: 37756177 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2023.3319959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how motor units (MUs) contribute to skeletal mechanical force is crucial for unraveling the underlying mechanism of human movement. Alterations in MU firing, contractile and force-generating properties emerge in response to physical training, aging or injury. However, how changes in MU firing and twitch properties dictate skeletal muscle force generation in healthy and impaired individuals remains an open question. In this work, we present a MU-specific approach to identify firing and twitch properties of MU samples and employ them to decode musculoskeletal function in vivo. First, MU firing events were decomposed offline from high-density electromyography (HD-EMG) of six lower leg muscles involved in ankle plantar-dorsi flexion. We characterized their twitch responses based on the statistical distributions of their firing properties and employed them to compute MU-specific activation dynamics. Subsequently, we decoded ankle joint moments by linking our framework to a subject-specific musculoskeletal model. We validated our approach at different ankle positions and levels of activation and compared it with traditional EMG-driven models. Our proposed MU-specific formulation achieves higher generalization across conditions than the EMG-driven models, with significantly lower coefficients of variation in torque predictions. Furthermore, our approach shows distinct neural strategies across a large repertoire of contractile conditions in different muscles. Our proposed approach may open new avenues for characterizing the relationship between MU firing and twitch properties and their influence on force capacity. This can facilitate the development of targeted rehabilitation strategies tailored to individuals with specific neuromuscular conditions.
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Campanini I, Bò MC, Bassi MC, Damiano B, Scaltriti S, Lusuardi M, Merlo A. Outcome measures for assessing the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions on equinus foot deformity in post-stroke patients with triceps surae spasticity: A scoping review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287220. [PMID: 37824499 PMCID: PMC10569611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Equinus foot deformity (EFD) is the most common deviation after stroke. Several physiotherapy interventions have been suggested to treat it. However, studies evaluating the efficacy of these treatments vary widely in terms of assessment modalities, type of data analysis, and nomenclature. This scoping review aimed to map current available evidence on outcome measures and the modalities employed to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy programs for the reduction of triceps surae (TS) spasticity and EFD in patients with stroke. METHODS Scoping review methodological frameworks have been used. Three databases were investigated. Primary literature addressing TS spasticity in adult patients with stroke using physiotherapy interventions was included. Findings were systematically summarized in tables according to the intervention used, intervention dosage, control group, clinical, and instrumental outcome measures. RESULTS Of the 642 retrieved studies, 53 papers were included. TS spasticity was assessed by manual maneuvers performed by clinicians (mainly using the Ashworth Scale), functional tests, mechanical evaluation through robotic devices, or instrumental analysis and imaging (such as the torque-angle ratio, the H-reflex, and ultrasound images). A thorough critical appraisal of the construct validity of the scales and of the statistics employed was provided, particularly focusing on the choice of parametric and non-parametric approaches when using ordinal scales. Finally, the complexity surrounding the concept of "spasticity" and the possibility of assessing the several underlying active and passive causes of EFD, with a consequent bespoke treatment for each of them, was discussed. CONCLUSION This scoping review provides a comprehensive description of all outcome measures and assessment modalities used in literature to assess the effectiveness of physiotherapy treatments, when used for the reduction of TS spasticity and EFD in patients with stroke. Clinicians and researchers can find an easy-to-consult summary that can support both their clinical and research activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Campanini
- Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, LAM–Motion Analysis Laboratory, San Sebastiano Hospital, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Correggio (Reggio Emilia), Correggio, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Bò
- Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, LAM–Motion Analysis Laboratory, San Sebastiano Hospital, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Correggio (Reggio Emilia), Correggio, Italy
- Merlo Bioengineering, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Benedetta Damiano
- Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, LAM–Motion Analysis Laboratory, San Sebastiano Hospital, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Correggio (Reggio Emilia), Correggio, Italy
| | - Sara Scaltriti
- Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, LAM–Motion Analysis Laboratory, San Sebastiano Hospital, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Correggio (Reggio Emilia), Correggio, Italy
| | - Mirco Lusuardi
- Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, Azienda USL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, Correggio, Italy
| | - Andrea Merlo
- Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, LAM–Motion Analysis Laboratory, San Sebastiano Hospital, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Correggio (Reggio Emilia), Correggio, Italy
- Merlo Bioengineering, Parma, Italy
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Merlo A, Campanini I. Automatic Identification of Involuntary Muscle Activity in Subacute Patients with Upper Motor Neuron Lesion at Rest-A Validation Study. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:866. [PMID: 36679664 PMCID: PMC9866882 DOI: 10.3390/s23020866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sustained involuntary muscle activity (IMA) is a highly disabling phenomenon that arises in the acute phase of an upper motor neuron lesion (UMNL). Wearable probes for long-lasting surface EMG (sEMG) recordings have been recently recommended to detect IMA insurgence and to quantify its evolution over time, in conjunction with a complex algorithm for IMA automatic identification and classification. In this study, we computed sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), and overall accuracy (Acc) of this algorithm by comparing it with the classification provided by two expert assessors. Based on sample size estimation, 6020 10 s-long sEMG epochs were classified by both the algorithm and the assessors. Epochs were randomly extracted from long-lasting sEMG signals collected in-field from 14 biceps brachii (BB) muscles of 10 patients (5F, age range 50-71 years) hospitalized in an acute rehabilitation ward following a stroke or a post-anoxic coma and complete upper limb (UL) paralysis. Among the 14 BB muscles assessed, Se was 85.6% (83.6-87.4%); Sp was 89.7% (88.6-90.7%), and overall Acc was 88.5% (87.6-89.4%) and ranged between 78.6% and 98.7%. The presence of IMA was detected correctly in all patients. These results support the algorithm's use for in-field IMA assessment based on data acquired with wearable sensors. The assessment and monitoring of IMA in acute and subacute patients with UMNL could improve the quality of care needed by triggering early treatments to lessen long-term complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Merlo
- LAM-Motion Analysis Laboratory, S. Sebastiano Hospital, Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Circondaria 29, 42015 Correggio, Italy
- Merlo Bioengineering, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Isabella Campanini
- LAM-Motion Analysis Laboratory, S. Sebastiano Hospital, Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Circondaria 29, 42015 Correggio, Italy
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Merletti R, Temporiti F, Gatti R, Gupta S, Sandrini G, Serrao M. Translation of surface electromyography to clinical and motor rehabilitation applications: The need for new clinical figures. Transl Neurosci 2023; 14:20220279. [PMID: 36941919 PMCID: PMC10024349 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2022-0279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced sensors/electrodes and signal processing techniques provide powerful tools to analyze surface electromyographic signals (sEMG) and their features, to decompose sEMG into the constituent motor unit action potential trains, and to identify synergies, neural muscle drive, and EEG-sEMG coherence. However, despite thousands of articles, dozens of textbooks, tutorials, consensus papers, and European and International efforts, the translation of this knowledge into clinical activities and assessment procedures has been very slow, likely because of lack of clinical studies and competent operators in the field. Understanding and using sEMG-based hardware and software tools requires a level of knowledge of signal processing and interpretation concepts that is multidisciplinary and is not provided by most academic curricula in physiotherapy, movement sciences, neurophysiology, rehabilitation, sport, and occupational medicine. The chasm existing between the available knowledge and its clinical applications in this field is discussed as well as the need for new clinical figures. The need for updating the training of physiotherapists, neurophysiology technicians, and clinical technologists is discussed as well as the required competences of trainers and trainees. Indications and examples are suggested and provide a basis for addressing the problem. Two teaching examples are provided in the Supplementary Material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Merletti
- LISiN, Department of Electronics andTelecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, 10138, Italy
| | - Federico Temporiti
- Physiotherapy Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milano, 20089, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milano, 20090, Italy
| | - Roberto Gatti
- Physiotherapy Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Milano, 20089, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milano, 20090, Italy
| | - Sanjeev Gupta
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana, 121004, India
| | - Giorgio Sandrini
- Department of Brain and Behavior Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Mariano Serrao
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, 04100, Italy
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Merlo A, Galletti M, Zerbinati P, Prati P, Mascioli F, Basini G, Rambelli C, Masiero S, Mazzoli D. Surgical quadriceps lengthening can reduce quadriceps spasticity in chronic stroke patients. A case-control study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:980692. [PMID: 36313503 PMCID: PMC9606420 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.980692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Muscle overactivity is one of the positive signs of upper motor neuron lesions. In these patients, the loss of muscle length and extensibility resulting from soft tissue rearrangement has been suggested as a contributing cause of muscle overactivity in response to stretching. Objective To assess the effects of surgical lengthening of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle-tendon unit by aponeurectomy on muscle spasticity. Methods This is a case-control study on chronic stroke patients with hemiparesis that have undergone lower limb functional surgery over a 8-year period. CASEs underwent corrective surgery for both the foot and knee deviations, inclusive of a QF aponeurectomy. Controls (CTRLs) underwent corrective surgery for foot deviations only. QF spasticity was assessed with the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) before and 1 month after surgery. The Wilcoxon test was used to assess MTS variations over time and the Mann–Whitney test was used to verify the presence of group differences at the 1 month mark. Results Ninety-three patients were included: 57 cases (30F, 1–34 years from lesion) and 36 controls (12F, 1–35 years from lesion). Before surgery, both CASEs and CTRLs had similar MTS scores (median MTS = 3) and functional characteristics. One month after surgery, QF spasticity was significantly lower in the CASEs compared to CTRLs (p = 0.033) due to a significant reduction of the median MTS score from 3 to 0 in the CASE group (p < 0.001) and no variations in the CTRL group (p = 0.468). About half of the cases attained clinically significant MTS reductions and complete symptom relief even many years from the stroke. Conclusions Functional surgery inclusive of QF aponeurectomy can be effective in reducing or suppressing spasticity in chronic stroke patients. This is possibly a result of the reduction in neuromuscular spindle activation due to a decrease in muscle shortening, passive tension, and stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Merlo
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Sol et Salus Hospital, Rimini, Italy
| | - Martina Galletti
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Sol et Salus Hospital, Rimini, Italy
- *Correspondence: Martina Galletti
| | | | - Paolo Prati
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Sol et Salus Hospital, Rimini, Italy
| | - Francesca Mascioli
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Sol et Salus Hospital, Rimini, Italy
| | - Giacomo Basini
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Sol et Salus Hospital, Rimini, Italy
| | - Chiara Rambelli
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Sol et Salus Hospital, Rimini, Italy
- Section of Rehabilitation, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefano Masiero
- Section of Rehabilitation, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Davide Mazzoli
- Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Sol et Salus Hospital, Rimini, Italy
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Campanini I, Merlo A, Disselhorst-Klug C, Mesin L, Muceli S, Merletti R. Fundamental Concepts of Bipolar and High-Density Surface EMG Understanding and Teaching for Clinical, Occupational, and Sport Applications: Origin, Detection, and Main Errors. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:4150. [PMID: 35684769 PMCID: PMC9185290 DOI: 10.3390/s22114150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Surface electromyography (sEMG) has been the subject of thousands of scientific articles, but many barriers limit its clinical applications. Previous work has indicated that the lack of time, competence, training, and teaching is the main barrier to the clinical application of sEMG. This work follows up and presents a number of analogies, metaphors, and simulations using physical and mathematical models that provide tools for teaching sEMG detection by means of electrode pairs (1D signals) and electrode grids (2D and 3D signals). The basic mechanisms of sEMG generation are summarized and the features of the sensing system (electrode location, size, interelectrode distance, crosstalk, etc.) are illustrated (mostly by animations) with examples that teachers can use. The most common, as well as some potential, applications are illustrated in the areas of signal presentation, gait analysis, the optimal injection of botulinum toxin, neurorehabilitation, ergonomics, obstetrics, occupational medicine, and sport sciences. The work is primarily focused on correct sEMG detection and on crosstalk. Issues related to the clinical transfer of innovations are also discussed, as well as the need for training new clinical and/or technical operators in the field of sEMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Campanini
- LAM-Motion Analysis Laboratory, Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, S. Sebastiano Hospital, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Circondaria 29, 42015 Correggio, Italy; (I.C.); or (A.M.)
| | - Andrea Merlo
- LAM-Motion Analysis Laboratory, Neuromotor and Rehabilitation Department, S. Sebastiano Hospital, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Circondaria 29, 42015 Correggio, Italy; (I.C.); or (A.M.)
- Merlo Bioengineering, 43121 Parma, Italy
| | - Catherine Disselhorst-Klug
- Department of Rehabilitation & Prevention Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, 52074 Aachen, Germany;
| | - Luca Mesin
- Mathematical Biology and Physiology Group, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy;
| | - Silvia Muceli
- Division of Signal Processing and Biomedical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Hörsalsvägen 11, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Roberto Merletti
- Laboratory for Engineering of the Neuromuscular System (LISiN), Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy
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Hernandez AG, Kobayashi RO, Yavuz US, Sartori M. Identification of Motor Unit Twitch Properties in the Intact Human In Vivo. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021; 2021:6310-6313. [PMID: 34892556 DOI: 10.1109/embc46164.2021.9630328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Restoring natural motor function in neurologically injured individuals is challenging, largely due to the lack of personalization in current neurorehabilitation technologies. Signal-driven neuro-musculoskeletal models may offer a novel paradigm for devising novel closed-loop rehabilitation strategies according to an individual's physiology. However, current modelling techniques are constrained to bipolar electromyography (EMG), thereby lacking the resolution necessary to extract the activity of individual motor units (MUs) in vivo. In this work, we decoded MU spike trains from high-density (HD)-EMG to obtain relevant neural properties across multiple isometric plantar-dorsiflexion tasks. Then, we sampled MU statistical distributions and used them to reproduce MU specific activation profiles. Results showed bimodal distributions which may correspond to slow and fast MU populations. The estimated activation profiles showed a high degree of similarity to the reference torque (R2>0.8) across the recorded muscles. This suggests that the estimation of MU twitch properties is a crucial step for the translation of neural information into muscle force.Clinical Relevance- This work has multiple implications for understanding the underlying mechanism of motor impairment and for developing closed-loop strategies for modulating alpha motor circuitries in neurologically injured individuals.
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Monitoring Involuntary Muscle Activity in Acute Patients with Upper Motor Neuron Lesion by Wearable Sensors: A Feasibility Study. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21093120. [PMID: 33946234 PMCID: PMC8125592 DOI: 10.3390/s21093120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sustained involuntary muscle activity (IMA) is a highly disabling and not completely understood phenomenon that occurs after a central nervous system lesion. We tested the feasibility of in-field IMA measuring at an acute rehabilitation ward. We used wearable probes for single differential surface EMG (sEMG), inclusive of a 3D accelerometer, onboard memory and remote control. We collected 429 h of data from the biceps brachii of 10 patients with arm plegia. Data quality was first verified in the time and frequency domains. Next, IMA was automatically identified based on the steady presence of motor unit action potential (MUAP) trains at rest. Feasibility was excellent in terms of prep time and burden to the clinical staff. A total of 350.5 h of data (81.7%) were reliable. IMA was found in 85.9 h (25%). This was often present in the form of exceedingly long-lasting trains of one or a few MUAPs, with differences among patients and variability, both within and between days in terms of IMA duration, root mean square (RMS) and peak-to-peak amplitude. Our results proved the feasibility of using wearable probes for single differential sEMG to identify and quantify IMA in plegic muscles of bedridden acute neurological patients. Our results also suggest the need for long-lasting acquisitions to properly characterize IMA. The possibility of easily assessing IMA in acute inpatients can have a huge impact on the management of their postures, physiotherapy and treatments.
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Reliability of surface electromyography in estimating muscle fiber conduction velocity: A systematic review. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2019; 48:53-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Chow JW, Stokic DS. Variability, frequency composition, and temporal regularity of submaximal isometric elbow flexion force in subacute stroke. Exp Brain Res 2016; 234:3145-3155. [PMID: 27370944 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-016-4712-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We compared variability, frequency composition, and temporal regularity of submaximal isometric elbow flexion force at 10, 20, 35, and 50 % of peak torque between 34 stroke subjects (5-48 days post-onset, both arms) and 24 age-matched controls (dominant arm), and related the findings in the paretic arm to motor impairment. Force variability was quantified by the coefficient of variation (CV), frequency composition by the median frequency and relative power in 0-3-, 4-6-, and 8-12-Hz bands, and regularity by the sample entropy (SampEn). The paretic elbow flexors showed significantly increased CV and relative power in 0-3-Hz band, decreased power in 4-6- and 8-12-Hz bands, and decreased SampEn compared to both the non-paretic and control elbow flexors (P ≤ 0.0002), with no differences between the latter two (P ≥ 0.012). With increasing contraction intensity, the relative power in different frequency bands was insufficiently modulated and SampEn excessively decreased in the paretic elbow flexors. Also, CV in the paretic elbow flexors was non-linearly related to the relative power in different frequency bands and SampEn across contraction intensities (rectangular hyperbolic fit, 0.21 ≤ R 2 ≤ 0.55, P ≤ 0.006), whereas no force parameter correlated with arm motor impairment. These results largely extend our previous findings in the paretic knee extensors to the elbow flexors in subacute stroke, except that here force variability was increased only in the paretic elbow flexors and modulation of force regularity with increasing contraction intensity showed the opposite, decreasing pattern, which was considerably exaggerated in the paretic muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Chow
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, 1350 East Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA.
| | - Dobrivoje S Stokic
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, 1350 East Woodrow Wilson Drive, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
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Chow JW, Stokic DS. Variability, frequency composition, and complexity of submaximal isometric knee extension force from subacute to chronic stroke. Neuroscience 2014; 273:189-98. [PMID: 24840274 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Revised: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We examined changes in the variability, frequency composition, and complexity of force signal from subacute to chronic stage of stroke during maintenance of isometric knee extension and compared these parameters between chronic stroke and healthy subjects. The sample included 15 healthy (65±8 years) and 23 chronic stroke subjects (65±14 years, 6-112 months post-stroke) of whom 10 (64±15 years) were also examined 11-22 days post-stroke (subacute stage). The subjects performed isometric knee extension at 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50% of peak torque for 10s (two trials each). Coefficient of variation (CV) was used as a measure of force variability. The median frequency and relative power in the 0-3, 4-6, and 8-12 Hz bands were obtained through a power spectrum analysis of the force signal. The signal complexity was quantified using the sample entropy (SampEn). The longitudinal analysis revealed a significant decrease in CV from subacute to chronic stage across all contraction levels (P<0.001) but no significant changes in the frequency and entropy parameters. Comparison between the chronic stroke and control subjects revealed no significant difference in CV across the force levels (P>0.05) but significantly decreased median frequency (P<0.01), with the relative power increased in 0-3 Hz band and decreased in 4-6 and 8-12 Hz bands in both paretic and non-paretic legs (P<0.001). SampEn was also significantly decreased in chronic stroke, bilaterally (P<0.001). These results indicate a shift toward lower frequencies and a less complex physiological process underlying force control in chronic stroke. The overall results suggest the improvement in force variability from subacute to chronic stroke but without normalization in the frequency composition and complexity of the force signal. Thus, disordered structure of the force signal remains a marker of impaired motor control long after stroke occurrence despite apparent recovery in force variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Chow
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
| | - D S Stokic
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS, USA
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Watanabe K, Gazzoni M, Holobar A, Miyamoto T, Fukuda K, Merletti R, Moritani T. Motor unit firing pattern of vastus lateralis muscle in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Muscle Nerve 2013; 48:806-13. [PMID: 23447092 DOI: 10.1002/mus.23828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Watanabe
- School of International Liberal Studies, Chukyo University, Yagotohonmachi, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8666, Japan; Laboratory of Applied Physiology, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Chow JW, Stokic DS. Force control of quadriceps muscle is bilaterally impaired in subacute stroke. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2011; 111:1290-5. [DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00462.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that force variability and error during maintenance of submaximal isometric knee extension are greater in subacute stroke patients than in controls and are related to motor impairments. Contralesional (more-affected) and ipsilesional (less-affected) legs of 33 stroke patients with sufficiently high motor abilities (62 ± 13 yr, 16 ± 2 days postinjury) and the dominant leg of 20 controls (62 ± 10 yr) were tested in sitting position. After peak knee extension torque [maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)] was established, subjects maintained 10, 20, 30, and 50% of MVC as steady and accurate as possible for 10 s by matching voluntary force to the target level displayed on a monitor. Coefficient of variation (CV) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) were used to quantify force variability and error, respectively. The MVC was significantly smaller in the more-affected than less-affected leg, and both were significantly lower than in controls. The CV was significantly larger in the more-affected than less-affected leg at 20 and 50% MVC, whereas both were significantly larger compared with controls across all force levels. Both more-affected and less-affected legs of patients showed significantly greater RMSE than controls at 30 and 50% MVC. The CV and RMSE were not related to the Fugl-Meyer motor score or to the Rivermead Mobility Index. The CV negatively correlated with MVC in controls but only in the less-affected leg of patients. It is concluded that isometric knee extension strength and force control are bilaterally impaired soon after stroke but more so in the more-affected leg. Future studies should examine possible mechanisms and the evolution of these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W. Chow
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | - Dobrivoje S. Stokic
- Center for Neuroscience and Neurological Recovery, Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, Mississippi
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