Spike shape analysis of electromyography for parkinsonian tremor evaluation.
BACKGROUND
Standard electromyography (EMG) parameters have limited utility for evaluation of Parkinson disease (PD) tremor. Spike shape analysis (SSA) EMG parameters are more sensitive than standard EMG parameters for studying motor control mechanisms in healthy subjects. SSA of EMG has not been used to assess parkinsonian tremor. This study assessed the utility of SSA and standard time and frequency analysis for electromyographic evaluation of PD-related resting tremor.


METHODS
We analyzed 1-s periods of EMG recordings to detect nontremor and tremor signals in relaxed biceps brachii muscle of seven mild to moderate PD patients.


RESULTS
SSA revealed higher mean spike amplitude, duration, and slope and lower mean spike frequency in tremor signals than in nontremor signals. Standard EMG parameters (root mean square, median, and mean frequency) did not show differences between the tremor and nontremor signals.


CONCLUSIONS
SSA of EMG data is a sensitive method for parkinsonian tremor evaluation.
Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, Building P4, 51-612, Wroclaw, Poland.
Jarosław
J
Marusiak
Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, Building P4, 51-612, Wroclaw, Poland.
Renata
R
Andrzejewska
Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, Building P4, 51-612, Wroclaw, Poland.
Dominika
D
Świercz
Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, Building P4, 51-612, Wroclaw, Poland.
Katarzyna
K
Kisiel-Sajewicz
Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, Building P4, 51-612, Wroclaw, Poland.
Anna
A
Jaskólska
Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Al. I.J. Paderewskiego 35, Building P4, 51-612, Wroclaw, Poland.
Artur
A
Jaskólski
D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014202:Tremor / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
Parkinson disease; diagnosis; electromyography; resting tremor; spike shape analysis