Multichannel SEMG in clinical gait analysis: a review and state-of-the-art.
BACKGROUND
Application of surface electromyography (SEMG) to the clinical evaluation of neuromuscular disorders can provide relevant "diagnostic" contributions in terms of nosological classification, localization of focal impairments, detection of pathophysiological mechanisms, and functional assessment.


METHODS
The present review article elaborates on: (i) the technical aspects of the myoelectric signals acquisition within a protocol of clinical gait analysis (multichannel recording, surface vs. deep probes, electrode placing, encumbrance effects), (ii) the sequence of procedures for the subsequent data processing (filtering, averaging, normalization, repeatability control), and (iii) a set of feasible strategies for the final extraction of clinically useful information.


RESULTS
Relevant examples of SEMG application to functional diagnosis are provided.


CONCLUSIONS
Emphasis is given to the key role of SEMG along with kinematic and kinetic analysis, for non-invasive assessment of relevant pathophysiological mechanisms potentially hindering the gait function, such as changes in passive muscle-tendon properties (peripheral non-neural component), paresis, spasticity, and loss of selectivity of motor output in functionally antagonist muscles.
Frigo
Carlo
C
Politecnico di Milano, Laboratory of Motor Control and Movement Biomechanics, TBM Lab, Department of Bioengineering, Polytechnic of Milan, via Golgi 39, Milan, Italy. carlo.frigo@biomed.polimi.it
Crenna
Paolo
P
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008124:Locomotion; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted