Electromyography activities in patients with lower lumbar disc herniation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) can affect lower limb muscle function resulting in an abnormal gait. This study aims to use surface electromyography (SEMG) to evaluate patients with L4/L5 and L5/S1 LDH throughout muscle movement. METHODS: Twenty L4/L5 LDH patients (L5 Group), twenty L5/S1 LDH patients (S1 Group), and twenty healthy controls (Healthy) were recruited for the study. SEMG of bilateral tibialis anterior (TA) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles of patients were recorded using the DELSYS Wireless EMG System (Trigno TM Wireless Systems, Delsys Inc., USA). Root-mean-square (RMS), mean power frequency (MPF), and median frequency (MF) were compared between bilateral limbs in each participant. RESULTS: Reduced MPF and MF was found in TA measurements of the L5 Group and LG measurements of the S1 Group. The MPF and MF of the TA of symptomatic limbs of the L5 Group were reduced when compared to asymptomatic limbs (p = 0.006, p = 0.012, p < 0.05), and there were no significant differences in LG measurements (p > 0.05). The LG MPF and MF of the S1 Group in symptomatic limbs were reduced when compared to asymptomatic limbs (p = 0.006, p = 0.017, p < 0.05), and there were no significant differences in TA measurements (p > 0.05). Although there were no significant differences in RMS between bilateral limbs of the L5 and S1 Groups, we found some changes in RMS curves. First, compared to asymptomatic limbs of L4/L5LDH patients, β-peaks in the TA of symptomatic limbs appeared earlier. Second, two peaks in the LG of symptomatic limbs were found in L5/S1 LDH patients. CONCLUSION: TA is affected in patients with LDH of L4/L5, and LG is affected in patients with LDH of L5/S1. As demonstrated, SEMG can identify LDH-related muscle dysfunction.

Effects of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Combined with Needle-Knife on Pain and Lumbar Function in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation

“…Cosamalón-Gan et al [ 12 ] found that there is a close relationship between the generation of lumbar disc herniation and inflammatory response and mechanical compression; the pulp nucleus in the herniated disc compresses the nearby healthy tissue, resulting in an ischemic state of the nerve root, in addition to annulus fibrosus rupture causing chemical irritation, causing an immune response and aggravating the degree of nerve root inflammation. Moreover, the protrusion produces traction and compression effects on the nerve roots, resulting in blockage of local venous blood return, aggravating the degree of nerve root edema, impaired lumbar function, and increased sensitivity to pain, so when treating, attention should be paid to the relief of the degree of pain and improving its lumbar function [ 13 ].…”

Dysfunctional muscle activities and co-contraction in the lower-limb of lumbar disc herniation patients during walking

“…Our findings are consistent with those of previous studies showing greater co-contraction between antagonistic muscles around the lumbar region of LDH patients and in the lower limb of older adults; additionally, this observation is extended to the lower limb muscles of LDH patients during walking 3,19 . The TA-LG co-contraction increased in LDH patients as an inefficient muscular coordination strategy, which can compensate for pain, numbness, stability, and proprioception caused by prolonged muscle co-contraction or disordered timing of muscle activation in the TA and LG during walking 5,26 . The decreased RF-BL co-contraction in the contralateral side of LDH patients compared with the healthy group could be associated with the increased amplitude of BL activities.…”

Medical Data Analysis of Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients after Traditional Chinese Medicine Rehabilitation Intervention Lumbar Function Recovery

“…During this period, there were 154 patients with LDH, excluding 29 patients who were not suitable for hot compress treatment, 25 patients who were unwilling to accept the test, 2 patients with traditional Chinese medicine allergy, 6 patients who changed to surgery due to aggravation of pain, and the other 92 patients signed informed consent. A total of 13 cases were included in the study due to different reasons [ 18 , 19 ]. A total of 26 patients received simple sandbag hot compress, 26 patients received simple traditional Chinese medicine hot compress, and 27 patients received traditional Chinese medicine sandbag hot compress.…”