RESEARCH - Surface electromyography helps track fibromyalgia

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07 May 2009

Surface electromyography helps track fibromyalgia

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) May 07 - Surface electromyography (SEMG)

analysis demonstrates muscle modifications in fibromyalgic patients

and the technique could be of help in managing the disease, Italian

researchers report in an April 15th paper in BMC Musculoskeletal

Disorders.

" SEMG, " lead investigator Dr. Bazzichi told Reuters Health, " is

a non-invasive technique and needle free -- unlike classic EMG --

which evaluates the metabolic change of groups of muscular fibers. "

" In our research SEMG analysis, performed on the tibialis anterior and

the distal part of vastus medialis muscle, " she added, alterations were

seen " in a high percentage of fibromyalgic patients. "

Dr. Bazzichi of S. Chiara Hospital, Pisa and colleagues used the

approach to evaluate 100 women with fibromyalgia and 50 healthy women.

The participants also completed a fibromyalgia impact questionnaire.

Compared to controls, the patients showed significantly lower initial

values and rate of change of median spectral frequency and conduction

velocity. They also had lower fatigue index scores.

" We hypothesized, " continued Dr. Bazzichi " that the muscular change

observed in fibromyalgic patients might be due to a modified pattern

of motor unit activation. "

" SEMG, " she concluded, " might be useful in assessing the modifications

of muscle characteristics in fibromyalgic patients and might be an

instrument to support diagnosis, to individuate target therapies and

to evaluate disease evolution and improvement during a period of

time. "

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2009;10.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/702530

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