Surface electromyogram features of the lower limb muscles in cerebral palsy children standing and walking on tiptoes / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Under well-controlled conditions, changes in myoelectric signal activity can largely reflect muscle changes such as muscle function, muscle tension, muscle strength, and multi-muscle coordination, providing objective analysis of the muscle function. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in surface electromyography (SEMG) of the lower limb muscles in cerebral palsy children standing or walking on tiptoes. METHODS: Using TELEMYO 2400R G2 SEMG telemeter produced by NORAXON Company in the United States, surface EMG features of bilateral anterior tibial muscles and medial gastrocnemius muscles were detected in 20 cerebral palsy children standing or walking on unilateral tiptoes. The myoelectric activity of the testicular muscles between the pointed and contralateral side was compared in all the subjects. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, and all subjects and their guardians signed an informed consent prior to the participation in the study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: When the subjects were standing and walking normally, the average SEMG amplitude and average SEMG integral of the medial gastrocnemius at the tiptoe side were significantly lower than those at the contralateral side (P < 0.05); the mean and median frequencies of the anterior tibial muscles and medial gastrocnemius muscles at the tiptoe side were significantly higher than those at the contralateral side (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that there are abnormal SEMG signals in the anterior tibial muscles and medial gastrocnemius muscles at the tiptoe side in children with cerebral palsy, and the muscle activity of the lower limbs in such children is not balanced. Therefore, SEMG is of practical value in evaluating the functional status of the neuromuscular system in children with cerebral palsy.