Neuromuscular assessment in the study of structural changes of striated muscle in multiple sclerosis

The aim of this research is to present the results of neuromuscular assessment using tensiomyography (TMG) in multiple sclerosis for prediction the muscle changes. This study consists of 20 patients, selected conform to certain criteria. Thus, according to diagnosis and MS level, the studied group was divided into two subgroups: subgroup A, consisting of 13 MS patients with clinically detectable gait disorders, and subgroup B, made up of seven MS patients without clinically detectable gait disorders. TMG determines the diagnosis of a certain muscular type and muscular status÷condition (fatigue, stress influence on the body, etc.), the diagnosis of a functional muscular symmetry. The investigation has been performed on the shank muscles. The parameters evaluated through TMG were: contraction time (Tc) and the amplitude of muscular displacement in transverse direction - Dm (mm) a parameter which is also correlated with Tc values and depends on the flexibility of muscular tissue.

Dm in the case of gastrocnemius muscles (mG) data analysis shows an evolution of functional bilateral right-left asymmetry, which is more pronounced in subgroup A. At the level of posterior shank, Dm values in subgroup A are lower, which means that patients in subgroup A have a higher muscular tone and a maximum response to stimulation. Concerning Tc values, this parameter indicates muscular fatigue at the level of anterior tibialis.

TMG, besides classical methods of paraclinical investigation, improves data generation, standardization, identifies correlations, which may facilitate a precocious diagnosis in morphofunctional changes evolution at muscular level at MS patients.