title: The potential and limitations of quantitative electromyography in equine medicine.
abstract: This review discusses the scope of using (quantitative) electromyography (EMG) in diagnosing myopathies and neuropathies in equine patients. In human medicine, many EMG methods are available for the diagnosis, pathophysiological description and evaluation, monitoring, or rehabilitation of patients, and some of these techniques have also been applied to horses. EMG results are usually combined with other neurophysiological data, ultrasound, histochemistry, biochemistry of muscle biopsies, and clinical signs in order to provide a complete picture of the condition and its clinical course. EMG technology is commonly used in human medicine and has been subject to constant development and refinement since its introduction in 1929, but the usefulness of the technique in equine medicine is not yet widely acknowledged. The possibilities and limitations of some EMG applications for equine use are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.d.wijnberg@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Inge D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Wijnberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hessel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Franssen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004576:Electromyography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D020422:Mononeuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Electromyography; Horse; Motor unit; Muscle; Myopathy; Nerve; Neuropathy