Abstract
Objective: To compare strength and endurance variables obtained in the quadriceps muscles of postpolio and control subjects over a 7-year interval with macro and single tiber electromyography (EMG) variables. Design: A controlled inception cohort study. Setting: Neuromuscular research laboratory of a university hospital. Subjects: A cohort of 23 postpolio and 14 control subjects. All postpolio subjects had a history, physical examination, and EMG consistent with previous poliomyelitis, and had greater than antigravity strength in the quadriceps muscle tested. Unstable postpolio subjects acknowledged new quadriceps weakness over the 7-year period of the study (n = 11), and stable postpolio subjects denied new weakness of the quadriceps over the same period (n = 12). Main Outcome Measures: All subjects had tests of neuromuscular function of the quadriceps muscles at the onset of this study and yearly over a 7-year period. EMG variables were determined on a separate day after the seventh year of neuromuscular measurements. Neuromuscular variables measured were isometric knee extension peak torque, isometric endurance (time to inability to maintain knee extensor contraction at 40% of maximal torque), tension time index (TTI) (product of isometric endurance time and 40% of maximal torque), and recovery of torque at 10 minutes after the endurance test. EMG variables were macro EMG and single tiber EMG (jitter, tiber density, and percent blocking). Results and Conclusions: Unstable postpolio subjects did not lose strength more rapidly than stable postpolio subjects or control subjects. Unstable postpolio subjects were significantly weaker, had decreased TTI, larger macro EMG amplitude, greater jitter, blocking, and tiber density in comparison with stable postpolio subjects (all p < .05). Strength was negatively correlated with macro EMG amplitude in the stable postpolio group (p < .05). The slope of the regression line of strength over 7 years did not correlate (p > .05) with neuromuscular or EMG variables in control, stable, or unstable postpolio subjects.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 986-991 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1997 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:From the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI. Submitted for publication August 26, 1996. Accepted in revised form March 21, 1997. Supported by United States Department H133C10210 and H133G40040. No commercial party having a direct or indirect interest in the subject matter of this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated. Dr. Franke is currently affiliated with the Department of Social Welfare, University of California, Los Angeles. Reprints are not available. 0 1997 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 0003.9993/97/7809-4165$3.00/O