The role of surface electromyography in evaluating hemiplegic gait in young stroke patients
QI Wen-liang
CHEN Meng
WANG Yu-hang
ZHOU Xiang
LIU Bao-hua
ZHAO Jun
Abstract：Objective To investigate the evolution patterns of hemiplegic gait in young stroke patients and identify targeted timing for walking rehabilitation interventions.Methods A total of 30 young patients with new-onset stroke treated at The 2nd School of Medicine,Wenzhou Medical University between December 2023 and June 2025 were enrolled.Surface electromyography(sEMG)was used to record electromyographic signals including root mean square(RMS),median frequency(MF)and mean power frequency(MPF).Balance function was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale(BBS),walking ability was evaluated with the Functional Ambulation Category Scale(FAC),limb motor function was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale(FMA),activities of daily living were assessed via the modified Barthel Index(mBI),muscle tone was evaluated with the modified Ashworth Scale(MAS),and muscle strength was graded using the Muscle Strength Grading Scale of Medical Research Council(MRC).Results sEMG data at different time points showed statistically significant differences in RMS(F=22.462,P=0.000),MF(F=33.873,P=0.000)and MPF(F=19.841,P=0.000),functional assessment scores including BBS(F=106.724,P=0.000),FAC(F=28.000,P=0.000),FMA(F=42.000,P=0.000)and mBI(F=37.931,P=0.000),as well as muscle tone during knee flexion(χ2=16.133,P=0.000),knee extension(χ2=14.200,P=0.001)and ankle dorsiflexion(χ2=15.867,P=0.000),and muscle strength during hip flexion(χ2=45.267,P=0.000),knee flexion(χ2=42.800,P=0.000),knee extension(χ2=38.933,P=0.000)and ankle dorsiflexion(χ2=52.133,P=0.000).Specifically,RMS(P=0.000,0.000),MF(P=0.000,0.000),MPF(P=0.000,0.000),BBS(P=0.000,0.000),FAC(P=0.000,0.000),FMA(P=0.000,0.000)and mBI(P=0.000,0.000)at 2 and 4 weeks after rehabilitation training were both higher than those before training,and the indicators at 4 weeks after training were also higher than those at 2 weeks after training(P=0.000,0.000,0.000,0.000,0.004,0.000,0.000).The muscle tone in the activities of knee flexion(P=0.000,0.000),knee extension(P=0.004,0.000)and ankle dorsiflexion(P=0.001,0.000)of the affected lower limb at 2 and 4 weeks after rehabilitation training were lower than those before training,while the muscle strength of hip flexion(P=0.000,0.000),knee flexion(P=0.000,0.000),knee extension(P=0.000,0.000)and ankle dorsiflexion(P=0.000,0.000)at 2 and 4 weeks after rehabilitation training were higher than those before training;and the muscle tone at 4 weeks after training were also lower than those at 2 weeks after training(P=0.033,0.042,0.012),while the muscle strength were also higher than those at 2 weeks after training(P=0.000,0.000,0.000,0.000).Conclusions The assessment using sEMG combined with multiple functional scales revealed the temporal characteristics and progressive improvement patterns of gait rehabilitation in young stroke patients.As the duration of rehabilitation treatment increased,neuromuscular function,balance function,walking ability,motor function,activities of daily living,lower limb muscle tone and muscle strength showed continuous and progressive improvement.
Keywords：StrokeYoung adultGait disordersneurologicElectromyography
Publication Date：2025-08-25
Online Publishing Date：2025-09-22(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 717-724 )