Electromyography and clinical neurophysiology
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Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol · Jan 1996
Involvement of the autonomic nervous system in patients with syringomyelia--a study with the sympathetic skin response.
In order to determine the function of the autonomic nervous system in syringomyelia, the sympathetic skin response (SSR) was performed in 13 patients with syringomyelia and 20 healthy controls. SSR was recorded from both palms and soles. In patients with syringomyelia, we found absent responses, prolonged latencies and reduced amplitudes. ⋯ The SSR latencies recorded from the palms and soles were both significantly prolonged (p < 0.05) and the amplitudes were reduced (p < 0.05) as compared to normal persons. Our data strongly suggest involvement of the autonomic nervous system in syringomyelia as assessed by the SSR response (in upper and lower extremities). In our patients, the extent of autonomic dysfunction was not related to the stage or the duration of disease.
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Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol · Dec 1995
Comparative StudyPosterior tibial somatosensory evoked potentials a comparative study of responses elicited by transcutaneous and percutaneous stimulation at the popliteal fossa.
Nine healthy volunteers underwent posterior tibial nerve stimulation at the popliteal fossa with recordings of averaged potentials being taken from the lumbar spine and cortex. Stimulation was attempted in all subjects both transcutaneously and percutaneously. A comparison of the responses to the two stimulating methods was made.
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Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol · Dec 1995
Sympathetic skin response: correlation with autonomic and somatic involvement in multiple sclerosis.
The sympathetic skin response (SSR) was studied in 63 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, 54 with clinical definite and 9 with clinical probable form. The test was recorded from palms and soles and induced by electric stimulus. SSR was abnormal, absent or mildly delayed, in 26 patients (41%). ⋯ It is concluded that SSR is a simple test for a dynamic evaluation of MS, well correlated with the degree of disability, able to detect subclinical lesions in the sympathetic tracts, but with slight localizing value. It has also a low sensitivity for autonomic impairment related only with the bladder dysfunction. These facts exclude the SSR as a primary diagnostic tool in MS.
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Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol · Nov 1995
Electromyography analysis of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles of children 8 to 10 years old.
The objective of this work was to study through in the electromyography the upper and lower umbilical rectus abdominis and the anterior and posterior parts of the external oblique muscles of children 8 to 10 years old. The children studied practice artistic and rhythmical gymnastic sports at the training and learning level and the study was made during abdominal exercise in the dorsal decubitus position on the ground and on a board. The children were divided into 2 groups: Group I - ten already trained children; Group II - nineteen learners. ⋯ The results showed that the superior umbilical part of the rectus abdominis muscle presented more intense action potential than the inferior-umbilical part; the more intense action potential occurred at the flexing of the trunk and at the flexing of the trunk with homo and heterolateral rotation. The anterior part of the external oblique muscle presented more intense action potential than the posterior part; the more intense action potential occurred at the flexing of the trunk and at the flexing of the trunk with heterolateral rotation. In both of the muscles the more intense action potential occurred between 45 and 60 degrees of flexing the trunk; the children in Group I presented more intense action potential than those in Group II; the exercise of lifting the flexed legs did not prove efficient for strengthening the analyzed abdominal muscle structure.
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Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol · Oct 1995
Comparative StudyThe effect of conventional transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on somatosensory evoked potentials.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an electrotherapeutic modality used for analgesia. We planned to demonstrate selective stimulation of large diameter fibers with conventional type TENS by way of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP). ⋯ SEP and finger-wrist segment sensory nerve conduction amplitudes were significantly decreased compared to pre-TENS values during 5, 10, and 15 minutes of TENS application (p < 0.05). These results reflect the selective stimulation of large diameter afferent fibers of conventional type TENS.