Assessment of the paraspinal muscles of subjects presenting an idiopathic scoliosis: an EMG pilot study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Charles-Hilaire Rivard¹  Sophie J DeSerres³  Christian Larivière²  A Bertrand Arsenault⁴  Nathaly Gaudreault⁵ 

[1] Department of surgery, Ste-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3C2, Canada;Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3C2, Canada,. Reseach Center, Montreal Rehabilitation Institute, Montreal, Quebec, H3S 2J4, Canada;School of physical and Occupational therapy, McGill Unversity, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1Y5, Canada;School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada;CRIR, Montreal Rehabilitation Institute, Montreal, Quebec, H3S 2J4, Canada

关键词: muscle fatigue;    neuromuscular efficiency;    scoliosis;    EMG;   

Others  :  1166075
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2474-6-14

 received in 2004-11-16, accepted in 2005-03-10,  发布年份 2005

【 摘 要 】

Background

It is known that the back muscles of scoliotic subjects present abnormalities in their fiber type composition. Some researchers have hypothesized that abnormal fiber composition can lead to paraspinal muscle dysfunction such as poor neuromuscular efficiency and muscle fatigue. EMG parameters were used to evaluate these impairments. The purpose of the present study was to examine the clinical potential of different EMG parameters such as amplitude (RMS) and median frequency (MF) of the power spectrum in order to assess the back muscles of patients presenting idiopathic scoliosis in terms of their neuromuscular efficiency and their muscular fatigue.

Methods

L5/S1 moments during isometric efforts in extension were measured in six subjects with idiopathic scoliosis and ten healthy controls. The subjects performed three 7 s ramp contractions ranging from 0 to 100% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and one 30 s sustained contraction at 75% MVC. Surface EMG activity was recorded bilaterally from the paraspinal muscles at L5, L3, L1 and T10. The slope of the EMG RMS/force (neuromuscular efficiency) and MF/force (muscle composition) relationships were computed during the ramp contractions while the slope of the EMG RMS/time and MF/time relationships (muscle fatigue) were computed during the sustained contraction. Comparisons were performed between the two groups and between the left and right sides for the EMG parameters.

Results

No significant group or side differences between the slopes of the different measures used were found at the level of the apex (around T10) of the major curve of the spine. However, a significant side difference was seen at a lower level (L3, p = 0.01) for the MF/time parameter.

Conclusion

The EMG parameters used in this study could not discriminate between the back muscles of scoliotic subjects and those of control subject regarding fiber type composition, neuromuscular efficiency and muscle fatigue at the level of the apex. The results of this pilot study indicate that compensatory strategies are potentially seen at lower level of the spine with these EMG parameters.

【 授权许可】

   
2005 Gaudreault et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Meier MP, Klein MP, Krebs D, Grob D, Muntener M: Fiber transformations in multifidus muscle of young patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 1997, 22(20):2357-2364.
• [2]Salter RB: Textbook of disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system. second edition. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, Md; 1983.
• [3]Yarom R, Robin GC: Studies on spinal and peripheral muscles from patients with scoliosis. Spine 1979, 4(1):12-21.
• [4]Kennelly KP, Stokes MJ: Pattern of asymmetry of paraspinal muscle size in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis examined by real-time ultrasound imaging. A preliminary study. Spine 1993, 18(7):913-917.
• [5]Gibson JNA, McMaster MJ, Scrimgeour CM, Stoward PJ, Rennie MJ: Rates of protein synthesis in paraspinal muscles: Lateral disparity in children with idiopathic scoliosis. Clinical Science 1988, 75:79-83.
• [6]Mannion AF, Meier M, Grob D, Muntener M: Paraspinal muscle fibre type alterations associated with scoliosis: An old problem revisited with new evidence. Eur Spine J 1998, 7(4):289-293.
• [7]Sirca A, Kostevc V: The fibre type composition of thoracic and lumbar paravertebral muscles in man. J Anat 1985, 141:131-137.
• [8]Grieve DW: Paravertebral muscles and posture. In Scoliosis and muscle. Edited by Zorab P. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1974:37-45.
• [9]Mannion AF, Dumas GA, Cooper RG, Espinosa FJ, Faris MW, Stevenson JM: Muscle fiber size and type distrubution in the thoracic and lumbar regions of erector spinae in healthy subjects without low back pain: normal values and sex differences. J Anat 1997, 190:505-513.
• [10]Bylund P, Jansson E, Dahlberg E, Eriksson E: Muscle fiber types in thoracic erector spinae muscles. Fiber types in idiopathic and other forms of scoliosis. Clin Orthop 1987, (214):222-228.
• [11]Spencer GS, Eccles MJ: Spinal muscle in scoliosis. Part 2. The proportion and size of type 1 and type 2 skeletal muscle fibres measured using a computer-controlled microscope. J Neurol Sci 1976, 30(1):143-154.
• [12]Zetterberg C, Aniansson A, Grimby G: Morphology of the paravertebral muscles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 1983, 8(5):457-462.
• [13]Kupa EJ, Roy SH, Kandarian SC, De Luca CJ: Effects of muscle fiber type and size on Emg median frequency and conduction velocity. J Appl Physiol 1995, 79(1):23-32.
• [14]Gerdle B, Henriksson-Larsen K, Lorentzon R, Wretling ML: Dependence of the mean power frequency of the electromyogram on muscle force and fibre type. Acta Physiol Scand 1991, 142(4):457-465.
• [15]Andreassen S, Arendt-Nielsen L: Muscle fibre conduction velocity in motor units of the human anterior tibial muscle: A new size principle parameter. J Physiol 1987, 391:561-571.
• [16]Arendt-Nielsen L, Mills KR: The relationship between mean power frequency of the emg spectrum and muscle fibre conduction velocity. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1985, 60(2):130-134.
• [17]Arendt-Nielsen L, Mills KR, Forster A: Changes in muscle fiber conduction velocity, mean power frequency, and mean emg voltage during prolonged submaximal contractions. Muscle Nerve 1989, 12(6):493-497.
• [18]Bilodeau M, Arsenault AB, Gravel D, Bourbonnais D: Time and frequency analysis of emg signals of homologous elbow flexors and extensors. Med Biol Eng Comput 1992, 30(6):640-644.
• [19]Pincivero DM, Campy RM, Salfetnikov Y, Bright A, Coelho AJ: Influence of contraction intensity, muscle, and gender on median frequency of the quadriceps femoris. J Appl Physiol 2001, 90(3):804-810.
• [20]Ng JKF, Richardson C, Kippers V, Parniapour M: Relationship between muscle fiber composition and functional capacity of back muscles in healthy subjects and patients with back pain. J Ortho Sports Phys Ther 1998, 27(6):389-402.
• [21]Mannion A, Dolan P: The effects of muscle length and force output on the emg power spectrum of the erector spinae. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 1996, 6(3):159-168.
• [22]DeVries HA: "Efficiency of electrical activity" as a physiological measure of the functional state of muscle tissue. Am J Phys Med 1968, 47(1):10-22.
• [23]Christenstensen H, Lo Monaco M, Dahl K, Fuglsang-Frederiksen A: Progressing of electrical activity in human muscle during a gradual increase in force. Electroenceph clin Neurol 1984, (58):230-239.
• [24]Moritani T, deVries HA: Neural factors versus hypertrophy in the time course of muscle strength gain. Am J Phys Med 1979, 58(3):115-130.
• [25]Barton PM, Hayes KC: Neck flexor muscle strength, efficiency, and relaxation times in normal subjects and subjects with unilateral neck pain and headache. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1996, 77(7):680-687.
• [26]Tang A, Rymer WZ: Abnormal force-emg relations in paretic limbs of hemiparetic human subjects. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1981, 44(8):690-698.
• [27]Arendt-Nielsen L, Mills KR: Muscle fibre conduction velocity, mean power frequency, mean emg voltage and force during submaximal fatiguing contractions of human quadriceps. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1988, 58(1–2):20-25.
• [28]Merletti R, Sabbahi MA, De Luca CJ: Median frequency of the myoelectric signal. Effects of muscle ischemia and cooling. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1984, 52(3):258-265.
• [29]Moritani T, Nagata A, Muro M: Electromyographic manifestations of muscular fatigue. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1982, 14(3):198-202.
• [30]Mannion AF, Dolan P: Electromyographic median frequency changes during isometric contraction of the back extensors to fatigue. Spine 1994, 19(11):1223-1229.
• [31]Roy SH, De Luca CJ, Casavant DA: Lumbar muscle fatigue and chronic lower back pain. Spine 1989, 14(9):992-1001.
• [32]Roy SH, De Luca CJ, Emley M, Buijs RJ: Spectral electromyographic assessment of back muscles in patients with low back pain undergoing rehabilitation. Spine 1995, 20(1):38-48.
• [33]van Dieen JH, Heijblom P, Bunkens H: Extrapolation of time series of EMG power spectrum parameters in isometric endurance tests of trunk extensor muscles. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 1998, 8:35-44.
• [34]Larivière C, Gagnon D, Gravel D, Arsenault AB, Dumas JP, Goyette M, Loisel P: A triaxial dynamometer to monitor lateral bending and axial rotation moment during static trunk extension efforts. Clin Biomech 2001, 16:80-83.
• [35]De Foa JL, Forrest W, Biedermann HJ: Muscle fibre direction of longissimus, iliocostalis and multifidus: Landmark-derived reference lines. J Anat 1989, 163:243-247.
• [36]van Dieen JH, Visser B: Estimating net lumbar sagittal plane moments from EMG data. The validity of calibration procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 1999, 9:309-315.
• [37]Vink P, van der Velde EA, Verbout AJ: A functional subdivision of the lumbar extensor musculature. Recruitment patterns and force-RA-EMG relationships under isometric conditions. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1998, 28:517-525.
• [38]Lindstrom L, Peterson I: Power spectrum analysis of emg signals and its applications. Prog Clin Neurophysiol 1983, 10:1-51.
• [39]Moritani T, Muro M: Motor unit activity and surface electromyogram power spectrum during increasing force of contraction. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1987, 56(3):260-265.
• [40]Bilodeau M, Houck J, Cuddeford T, Sharma S, Riley N: Variations in the relationship between the frequency content of EMG signals and the rate of torque development in voluntary and elicited contractions. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2002, 12(2):137-145.
• [41]Gerdle B, Karlsson S, Crenshaw AG, Friden J: The relationships between EMG and muscle morphology througout sustained static knee extension at two submaximal force levels. Acta Physiol Scand 1997, 160:341-351.
• [42]Gerdle B, Karlsson S, Crenshaw AG, Elert J, Friden J: The influences of muscle fibre proportions and areas upon EMG during maximal dynamic knee extensions. Eur J Appl Physiol 2000, 81:2-10.
• [43]Avikainen VJ, Rezasoltani A, Kauhanen HA: Asymmetry of paraspinal emg-time characteristics in idiopathic scoliosis. J Spinal Disord 1999, 12(1):61-67.
• [44]Portillo D, Sinkora G, McNeill T, Spencer D, Schultz A: Trunk strengths in structurally normal girls and girls with idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 1982, 7(6):551-554.
• [45]Reuber M, Schultz A, McNeill T, Spencer D: Trunk muscle myoelectric activities in idiopathic scoliosis. Spine 1983, 8(5):447-456.
• [46]Zetterberg C, Bjork R, Ortengren R, Andersson GB: Electromyography of the paravertebral muscles in idiopathic scoliosis. Measurements of amplitude and spectral changes under load. Acta Orthop Scand 1984, 55(3):304-309.
• [47]Zuk : The role of spinal and abdominal muscles in the pathogenesis of scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg 1962, 44B:102-105.
• [48]Roy SH, De Luca CJ, Emley M, Oddsson LI, Buijs RJ, Levins JA, Newcombe DS, Jabre JF: Classification of back muscle impairment based on the surface electromyographic signal. J Rehabil Res Dev 1997, 34(4):405-414.
• [49]Merletti R, DeLuca CJ, Sathyan D: Electrically evoked myoelectric signals in back muscles: Effect of side dominance. J Appl Physiol 1994, 77(5):2104-2114.