Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: May | Volume: 7 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 134-143
Effect of Electromyographic Feedback in Improving Strength of Lower Limb Muscles in Chronic Ischemic Stroke Participants: An Interventional Study
Dr. Avni Shah1, Dr. T. Nagendran2, Dr. Shailja Pandya1, Dr. Niyati Patel3
1Lecturer, C U Shah Physiotherapy College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, India.
2Senior Physical Therapy Practitioner, PMR Hospital, Kuwait.
3Lecturer, Parul Institute of Physiotherapy, Baroda, Gujarat, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Avni Shah
ABSTRACT
Background and purpose: Stroke is the common neurological disorder after age of 40, clinically described by spasticity, weakness, functional limitation, balance impairment and other neurological impairments.EMG feedback is the strategy by which electrical signals of muscles transfer into visual and auditory forms to make the patient aware of the condition. EMG feedback is the classical conditioning therapeutic intervention in Stroke rehabilitation.
Purpose of this study was to find the effectiveness of EMG feedback with conventional physiotherapy in improving the strength of lower limb muscles in chronic ischemic stroke subjects.
Materials and method: 30 subjects of chronic stroke who match the inclusion criteria for this study were assigned into two groups of 15 patients each group. Group A was treated by conventional physical therapy and Group B was treated by EMG feedback with conventional physical therapy. Outcome measures were taken prior to the intervention and at the end of 12th week of post intervention. The outcome measures for strength by HHD, ROM by Goniometry, and TUG for functional mobility.
Results: The participants treated with EMG feedback with conventional physiotherapy shown greater improvement in Strength (p=0.01 for knee flexors, 0.02 for knee extensors, <0.001 for dorsi flexors and <0.001 for planter flexors) ROM (p=0.01for knee ROM, 0.01for dorsiflexion and 0.02 for planter flexion) and TUG (p=0.02) than participants treated with conventional physiotherapy alone.
Conclusion: EMG feedback is more effective measure when combined with conventional physiotherapy than conventional physiotherapy alone in improving strength of lower limb muscles in chronic ischemic stroke subjects.
Key words: Stroke, EMG feedback, Conventional physiotherapy, HHD, ROM, TUG