Characteristics of Initiation and Termination of Muscle Contraction in Early Hemiparetic Wrists: Analysis of Median Frequency

The purposes of this study were to investigate the median frequency (MDF) between initiation and termination of muscle contraction through surface electromyographic (sEMG) analysis and to propose the basis of clinical treatment for movement problems in early hemiparetic upper limbs. Thirteen patients who had stroke with onset less than 3 months prior to the study and seven control subjects participated in the study. The median frequency in initiation and termination of muscle contraction was recorded from wrist flexor and extensor muscles using the sEMG, with 3 second beeper signals, during maximal isometric wrist flexion and extension. Flexion and extension must be done as quickly and forcefully as possible. The results of the study were as follows: 1. The MDF of the onset and offset sections were significantly lower on the paretic than the nonparetic and control sides. 2. The MDF of the offset section significantly decreased on the paretic and nonparetic sides. Consequently, this study showed that the lowering of the MDF was due to the hemiparetic wrist motor impairment and muscle weakness. These results are also related to Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA) scores in hemiparetic upper limbs. This study also suggests that since muscle weakness of early stroke patients affects the functional decrease of upper limbs, further studies must focus on the treatment to improve muscle agility and muscle fiber recruitment efficiency that can induce the functional recovery correlated to motor control.