Wearable electromyography recordings during daily life activities in children with cerebral palsy
Josephine S Michelsen1, Mai C Lund1,2, Tine Alkjaer3
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Wearable textile electromyography (EMG) systems effectively identified differences in muscle activity between children with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing peers. Children with CP exhibited lower muscle activity but utilized more of their maximal strength for daily tasks.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function, impacting daily activities.
- Accurate assessment of muscle activity in children with CP is crucial for understanding functional limitations.
- Wearable technology offers a promising avenue for unobtrusive, long-term physiological monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of wearable textile electromyography (EMG) systems in detecting differences in muscle activity.
- To compare daily muscle activity patterns between children with spastic CP and typically developing children.
- To investigate muscle activation strategies during functional tasks in children with CP.
Main Methods:
- Utilized wearable textile EMG systems to record leg muscle activity in children with CP (GMFCS levels I-II) and typically developing controls.
- Measured muscle activity at rest and during seven specific daily activities.
- Compared absolute EMG levels during maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) and relative EMG activity during functional tasks.
Main Results:
- Children with CP demonstrated significantly lower absolute EMG levels during MVCs on the most affected side compared to the least affected side and controls.
- No detectable EMG activity was observed at rest in either group.
- Relative EMG activity (as a percentage of MVC) was higher in children with CP during walking, jumping, and kicking on the most affected side.
Conclusions:
- Wearable textile EMG systems are feasible and effective for measuring daily muscle activity in children with CP.
- Children with CP exhibit reduced muscle activation during maximal efforts but compensate by utilizing a greater proportion of their maximal voluntary strength during daily activities.
- These findings highlight the potential of wearable EMG for personalized rehabilitation strategies and monitoring disease progression in pediatric CP.
Aim:
To test whether wearable textile electromyography (EMG) recording systems may detect differences in muscle activity levels during daily activities between children with cerebral palsy (CP) and age-matched typically developing children.
Method:
Wearable textile EMG recording systems were used to obtain leg muscle activity in 10 children with spastic CP (four females, six males; mean age 9y 6mo, standard deviation [SD] 2y 4mo, range: 6-13y; Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] level I and II) and 11 typically developing children (four females, seven males; mean age 9y 9mo, SD 1y 11mo, 7-12y) at rest and while performing seven daily activities.
Results:
Children with CP showed significantly lower absolute EMG levels during maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of muscles on the most affected side as compared to the least affected side and to typically developing children. None of the typically developing children or children with CP showed detectable EMG activity in resting situations. EMG activity relative to MVC was greater in children with CP during walking, jumping, and kicking on the most affected side as compared to the least affected side and to typically developing children.
Interpretation:
Wearable textile EMG recording systems may be used to determine differences in muscle activity during daily activities in children with CP. Children with CP showed reduced muscle activity during daily activities compared to their peers, but used a significantly larger part of their maximal voluntary muscle strength to perform these activities.
What This Paper Adds:
Wearable textile electromyography (EMG) systems are feasible for measurement of daily muscle activity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Children with CP showed reduced EMG levels during maximal voluntary contractions. Neither typically developing children or children with CP showed EMG activity in resting situations. Children with CP used a larger part of their voluntary muscle strength during daily activities.
