Final Flashcards

1
Q

Clinical Electromyography (EMG)

A

used to evaluate the scope of neuromuscular disease or trauma as well as assist with establishing anticipated goals and expected outcomes

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2
Q

Forms of clinical EMG:

A

Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)

Electromyography (needle EMG)

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3
Q

Kinesiological EMG

A

used to study muscle activity and establish the role of various muscles in specific activities
Electromyography (primarily surface EMG)

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4
Q

Biofeedback

A

describes the use of instrumentation to make covert physiological processes more apparent to the patient

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5
Q

Best and most widely used electrodes:

A

silver silver chloride

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6
Q

How many electrodes:

A

2 active

1 isolation

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7
Q

What do the 2 active electrodes do?

A

primarily sense the activity of the muscle

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8
Q

What does the isolation electrode do?

A

make sure the two active electrodes only pickup electricity that is coming from the patient

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9
Q

Where are the active electrodes placed?

A

both active electrodes are generally placed at the midpoint of the muscle being recorded in line with the muscle fibers

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10
Q

Considerations for placing electrodes:

A

Place electrodes in position of movement

Consider how skin may shift over the underlying muscle during movement

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11
Q

What does closer spacing of the electrodes give?

A

smaller sampling are and lower amplitude of signals

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12
Q

What does wider spacing of the electrodes give?

A

larger sampling area and higher amplitude of signals

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13
Q

What is volume conduction?

A

the salt water conducts electricity through its volume and allows us to record from the surface of the skin

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14
Q

What is cross talk?

A

when the electrodes are far apart you can get recordings from other muscles

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15
Q

What is an artifact?

A

an excess or erroneous signal that is detected and displayed but does not come from the electrical activity of motor neurons or muscle tissue

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16
Q

What are the different types of artifact?

A

movement
power line interference
EMG

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17
Q

Movement artifact:

A

shift on the screen that is from the movement of wires not electrical activity

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18
Q

Power line interference:

A

if the reference ground isn’t on the pt and eliminating electrical interference

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19
Q

What happens during the processing phase?

A
filtering
rectification and integration
time constant
amplification
goal/threshold
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20
Q

What is filtering:

A

generally, the electrical signal from the pt is filtered to only allow frequency components of 80-250 Hz to pass

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21
Q

What is rectification and integration:

A

so that it makes more sense for us to look at and appreciate change

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22
Q

Time constant:

A

we can determine how fast the display on the screen follows changes in electrical activity of muscle

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23
Q

Low time constant (low smoothing)

A

screen displays changes very quickly to follow changes in muscle activity (see moment to moment changes)

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24
Q

High time constant (high smoothing)

A

Screen display does not change quickly to follow changes in muscle activity (seeing overall effect)
Screen does not change with every step

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25
Q

Amplification (gain/sensitivity)

A

Can be used to adjust the size of an EMG signal on a given display

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26
Q

Goal/threshold:

A

some level of EMG that a pt can be prompted to contract up to or relax down to, gives the pt something to shoot for

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27
Q

Display Phase

A

display mode

audio feedback to patient

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28
Q

Types of display mode

A

continuous

work/rest

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29
Q

Continuous:

A

the unit continuously displays the pts electrical activity along with any goals or other feedback

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30
Q

Work/rest:

A

The unit prompts the pt to contract toward the goal for a specific period of time and then prompts the pt to relax for a specific period of time
Turns on the display when you are likely to contract and turns it off when you’re likely to be resting

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31
Q

Electrode spacing for shaping up:

A

wide over target muscle or group to permit sampling of large number of motor units)

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32
Q

Gain/sensitivity for shaping up:

A

high, to pick up even very weak signals

33
Q

Time constant/smoothing for shaping up:

A

low, so that even small, transient increases in muscle activity are reflected on the screen)

34
Q

Threshold or goal for shaping up:

A

relatively low (just over voluntary EMG)

35
Q

As facilitation occurs (amplitude of EMG signal increases)

A

Raise threshold/goal setting (requiring greater depolarization to hit target)
Decrease sensitivity setting (to keep the whole signal on the display)
Narrow electrode spacing (to focus more on a muscle and less on a group)

36
Q

Electrode spacing for shaping down:

A

relatively narrow over target muscle or group

37
Q

Gain/sensitivity for shaping down:

A

relatively low

38
Q

Time constant for shaping down:

A

high (so that display on screen does not follow changes in activity very quickly- small, transient changes in activity are not reflected on display)

39
Q

Threshold or goal for shaping down:

A

relatively high (but just under resting levels of EMG

40
Q

As relaxation occurs (amplitude of EMG signal decreases)

A

Lower threshold/goal setting (requiring more relaxation to hit target)
Increase sensitivity setting (to keep signal on display)
Widen electrode placing (to broaden relaxation from one muscle to a muscle group or area)

41
Q

Motor Copy

A

Contraction of the stronger (unaffected) limb/muscle provides a template for amplitude and timing of EMG activity
Pt contracts weaker (affected) limb/muscle and tries to “copy” amplitude and timing of stronger limb

42
Q

Who are not good candidates for CAMA?

A

pts with cognitive impairment, receptive aphasia, or visual and/or auditory impairments are not good candidates for sEMG (biofeedback)

43
Q

CAMA

A

targeted muscle training and “motor copy”, the output of the sEMG unit is directed to the pt, who is asked to respond appropriately and modify his or her performance

44
Q

Fourier analysis:

A

Detect fatigue (reduction of higher frequency components of CMUAP and increase in lower frequency components of CMUAP)

45
Q

Muscle fatigue index:

A

(decrease in median frequency)

less large neurons firing and you’re left with only small ones

46
Q

Normalization:

A

Express EMG values as a percent of MVIC

can compare one person to another

47
Q

Averaging:

A

For some tasks (like gait), the EMG from many reps of a particular movement are averaged together before analysis
Reduces variability and gives a truer picture of typical EMG during the task

48
Q

What does higher levels of EMG indicate?

A

greater electrical activity in the area of a muscle being sampled, but this may or may not equal greater force or torque

49
Q

Mononeuropathy:

A

one nerve in one location

50
Q

Multiple mononeuorpathy:

A

one nerve in different locations

51
Q

Polyneuropathy:

A

many nerves

52
Q

Traumatic myelinopathy (Class 1):

A

Some neurons go to sleep and then wake back up a few weeks later
After a few weeks pt is able to contract a little again

53
Q

Which axons are the first to fail after the are compressed?

A

larger diameter and ast to come back

54
Q

Compound motor unit action potential

A

collective depolarization of many motor units

55
Q

What does a reduction in amplitude of CMUAP indicate?

A

some neurons are not conducting

56
Q

Sharp waves:

A

variation of fibrillation, presence suggest axonopathy

57
Q

Fibrillation potentials

A

involuntary contraction of a single muscle fiber that is denervated (6-month recovery)

58
Q

Nascent units

A

new motor units are beginning to appear leading to recovery of function

59
Q

Purpose of NVC:

A

assess time and quality of conduction of neural impulses in peripheral motor and sensory nerves

60
Q

Commonly tested nerves for NVC:

A

median, ulnar, peroneal, posterior tibial

61
Q

Factors influencing NVC:

A
fiber size
temperature
myelination
chemical state of nerve
age of patient
62
Q

Motor NCV:

A

AP is generated under cathode (negative electrode)

63
Q

Motor NCV for median nerve:

A

Abductor Pollicis Brevis

64
Q

Motor NCV for ulnar nerve:

A

Abductor Digiti Minimi

65
Q

Motor NCV for peroneal nerve:

A

Extensor Digitorum Brevis

66
Q

Motor NCV for posterior tibial nerve:

A

Abductor Hallicus (or Abductor Digiti Minimi)

67
Q

Distal latency:

A

Time it takes AP to travel to stimulus to recording electrode for the most distal piece of motor nerve

68
Q

What can longer distal latency and slower velocity indicate?

A

some degree of demyelination and are conducting more slowly, or it might indicate that the largest and fastest conducting axons are not conducting at all

69
Q

Decreased amplitude might indicate:

A

might indicate axonal degeneration or partial denervation with fewer innervated motor units contributing to the recorded potential

70
Q

Increased duration might indicate:

A

partial demyelination (some fibers)

71
Q

Antidromic study:

A

Yellow electrodes would be stimulating, rings would be rings to have AP travel backwards
Opposite the direction a signal normally goes (antidromic) for sensory nerve, from proximal to distal

72
Q

F wave:

A

Indicated for disorders known to have a more proximal neuropathology
Antidromal action potential “bounces back” from cell body and is recorded at muscle

73
Q

H wave

A

Electric tendon tap
primarily of value in assessing the continuity and function of the sensory and motor pathways of the first sacral nerve roots (S1)

74
Q

Normal during needle insertion:

A
insertion activity (brief, small amplitude polyphasic discharges as needle pierces muscle fiber membranes)
Stimulates muscle fibers not nerves
75
Q

Abnormal during needle insertion:

A

May be decreased over normal

May be increased over normal

76
Q

Fibrillation potentials

A

Spontaneous depolarizations of single muscle fibers (possibly resulting from increased sensitivity to circulating acetylcholine). Generally not visible through the skin.

77
Q

Positive sharp waves

A

Spontaneous depolarizations of single muscle fibers or groups of muscle fibers. (Possibly resulting from increased sensitivity to circulating acetylcholine or from mechanical depolarization by needle itself).

78
Q

Fasciculations

A

“Spontaneous potentials seen with irritation or degeneration of the anterior horn cell, nerve root compression, and muscle spasms or cramps. They are believed to represent the involuntary asynchronous contraction of a bundle of muscle fibers or a whole motor unit.” (Portney in O’Sullivan) Can often be seen through the skin (twitches). Not necessarily abnormal.

79
Q

Repetitive discharge

A

Seen with lesion of the anterior horn cell and peripheral nerves, and with myopathies. Characterized by trains of rather high frequency potentials.