Simulation and analysis of needle electromyogram in Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy by using line source model

Electromyography (EMG) is a valuable clinical test in detection of muscle and nerve pathology and distinguishing between myogenic and neurogenic conditions from normal condition. By using EMG, one assesses the pathophysiology on the basis of the waveform characteristics of the recorded signal. This requires detailed knowledge of the relationship between the waveform generators and the waveform measurements. In this study, we manipulated parameters of improved line source model for normal EMG generation to simulate Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy (EDMD) disease. Common features of simulated signals in normal and EDMD conditions were extracted and quantitative analyses were performed. Finally, the simulation results and clinical results were compared and discussed. The results indicate the ability and validity of line source model in simulation EDMD disease and also confirm that EMG recordings in EDMD generally fulfill the criteria for myopathy.