Forearm Muscles Electromyography Analysis for Cylindrical Grip Sizes in Stroke

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the electrical activity of Flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum communis for cylindrical grip sizes of 30 mm and 40 mm in stroke patients. Methodology: 10 MCA affected stroke subjects and 10 normal subjects of same dominance, age and occupation were taken by purposeful sampling from physiotherapy department of M.M. Institute of Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation. They were asked to grip two wooden cylinders of size 30mm and 40mm and electrical activity of Flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum communis i.e. amplitude and duration were analyzed during maximal contraction. The readings were statistically analyzed to compare the difference of activity in the proposed muscles for two different cylinders. Results: The statistical tests revealed that the differences between the amplitude and duration of the proposed muscles in hemiplegic and normal subjects are statistically significant. However, the difference of amplitude and duration of “Flexor digitorum superficialis” and “Extensor digitorum communis” are not statistically significant within the hemiplegic subjects for both the cylindrical diameters but the prolonged duration of Extensor digitorum communis in 40 mm cylinder was significant statistically. Conclusion: There is a significant difference in the amplitude and duration of forearm muscles i.e. flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor digitorum communis when compared with normals. However, only duration of extensor digitorum communis show significant change among the hemiplegic subjects with the change in grip size. The amplitude and duration of flexor digitorum superficialis and amplitude of extensor digitorum communis does not change significantly.