Abstract

This paper presents the results of comparative bilateral global surface electromyography (gEMG) recordings from selected upper and lower extremity muscles in patients undergoing rehabilitation following spinal cord injuries at C4-Th8 levels. It was assumed that this technique can enable precise monitoring of changes in muscle tone during treatment in patients with spinal injuries.Surface gEMG recordings were obtained at rest (complete muscle relaxation) and during maximum muscle contraction in 12 patients (aged from 21 to 45 years) from the anterior tibial muscle, gastrocnemius muscle and abductor pollicis brevis muscle before and after four weeks of rehabilitation.Signs of increased muscle tone during surface gEMG recordings at rest observed in the patients were associated with elevated amplitude (mean 52μV). This parameter decreased to a mean of 37μV following rehabilitation. The observed decrease in muscle tone was accompanied by an increase in mean gEMG amplitude of the muscles during their maximum effort.Surface gEMG recordings are a precise diagnostic tool serving to evaluate not only muscle performance during maximum effort but also muscle tone at rest.

Key words:

spasticity, Electromyography, spinal injury