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Determining the Functional Status of the Corticospinal Tract Within One Week of Stroke
Published on: February 22, 2020
Recovery of motor function after stroke: a polymyography-based analysis
Jovana Kojović1, Nadica Miljković, Milica M Janković
1SMI, Aalborg University, Department of Health Science and Technology, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7 D3, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark. kojovana@hst.aau.dk
Journal of Neuroscience Methods
|October 19, 2010
Summary
This study introduces a new method using electromyography (EMG) to track muscle activation changes during gait training recovery in stroke patients. The findings quantify motor function improvements, aiding in understanding the physiology of recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Stroke survivors often experience impaired motor function, particularly in gait.
- Intensive gait training is crucial for motor recovery, but objective measures of muscle activation patterns are needed.
- Sensor-driven electrical stimulation can assist in gait training, but its effects on muscle activity require detailed analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel method for assessing muscle activation patterns during goal-directed movement.
- To evaluate the sensitivity of this method in detecting changes in stroke patients undergoing gait training.
- To quantify the recovery of motor function by analyzing muscle activation patterns and comparing them to healthy subjects.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study utilizing data from a randomized clinical trial on intensive gait training.
- Development of a portable instrument for simultaneous wireless recording of up to 16 channels, including electromyography (EMG) amplifiers, inertial sensors, and goniometers.
- Analysis of muscle activation patterns (levels and median frequencies) in stroke patients before and after a four-week gait training intervention.
Main Results:
- The developed method successfully detected significant changes in muscle activation patterns in stroke patients post-gait training.
- Recovery following gait training led to a decrease in the differences between muscle activation patterns of hemiplegic and healthy subjects.
- The method provided a quantitative measure of recovery, correlating with established clinical scores.
Conclusions:
- The presented method offers a sensitive and quantitative approach to assess muscle activation patterns during motor function recovery.
- This technique enhances the understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying functional recovery after stroke.
- The EMG analysis serves as a valuable addition to existing clinical assessments for stroke rehabilitation.
