Evaluating Function/Impairment of Low Back Pain Using SEMG
Gatchel RJ et al. - Conventional electromyography EMG assessment is usually referred to as "needle EMG," where a fine concentric or monopolar needle electrode is inserted into a particular muscle. Quantitative analyses are then conducted on needle insertion-generated activity, as well as motor unit action potential waveforms. Another less intrusive form of EMG evaluation is surface EMG (SEMG). Rather than inserting needles, which many patients complain of as being painful and too invasive, electrodes are placed on the skin using simple adhesive collars and overlying the muscle(s) being studied. One drawback of SEMG, as compared to needle EMG, is that only superficial muscle activity can be recorded. Nevertheless, as will be reviewed, SEMG has been found to be useful in evaluating movement, gait, postural, and functional disturbances. In this present article, the authors will focus on the use of SEMG in evaluating the degree of physical impairment in low back pain (LBP). [more...]
|
|
|
