A Study to Find Out the Effect of Exercise Overflow on Electromyography Activity in Patients with Stroke-An Observational Study

Stroke or brain attack is the sudden loss of neurological function caused by an interruption of the blood flow to the brain. It is associated with various neurological signs & symptoms. There are so many therapeutic approaches used for the treatment of stroke. Exercise overflow is sometimes used as a therapeutic technique by physical or occupational therapists concerned with the rehabilitation of patients with motor deficits resulting from a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). It can be measured with Electromyography (EMG) amplitude of homologus muscle to affected side.

To find out the effect of exercise overflow on EMG activity in patients with Stroke.

This study was carried out in K.K. Sheth Physiotherapy College and patients were selected from physiotherapy centres in and around Rajkot. Total 10 subjects of stroke were selected according to inclusion & exclusion criteria and written consents were taken. Patients performed resisted elbow flexion exercise against maximal resistance on unaffected side and EMG amplitude of Biceps brachii muscle of affected extremity was recorded.

Data were analysed using SPSS 14 software. Paired t test was used for analysis of difference of MUAP amplitude from baseline during exercise overflow.

Paired t test showed significant effect of overflow to the involved nonexercised extremities in biceps brachii.

Motor unit action potential (MUAP) amplitude

Exercising the uninvolved extremities in patients with CVAs caused significant increase in EMG activity in the hemiparetic upper limb during the exercise condition.