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Surface EMG signal alterations in Carpal Tunnel syndrome: a pilot study

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Abstract

Carpal Tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common compartmental syndromes and nerve conduction studies are widely considered as the standard to diagnose the pathology. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate whether multichannel surface electromyography can detect muscle alterations in patients diagnosed with severe CTS. Surface EMG signals were recorded at 10, 20, 30, and 80% MVC from the flexor and abductor pollicis brevis muscles of five patients with CTS and five control subjects. Subjects with severe CTS showed different interference patterns, lower signal amplitude, lower neuromuscular efficiency, and lower myoelectric manifestations of fatigue with respect to the control group. At submaximal levels, action potentials recorded from the flexor and abductor pollicis brevis muscles of the CTS group were characterized by lower conduction velocity and lower mean spectral frequency than the healthy group. These findings support, among others, the hypothesis of a selective loss of fast motor units (type II fiber) associated with CTS.

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Acknowledgments

Authors wish to thank Annalisa Lantermo MD (Servizio Prevenzione e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro, S.Pre.S.A.L., ASL1 Torino, Italy) for her help in starting the project and in the recruitment of the symptomatic workers; Benita Delfino MD for her help in subject selection and medical assistance. We wish to thank Claudio Dadone for his help in the design and realization of the isometric device and for data acquisition and reduction shared with Lorenzo Nannucci. We wish to thank also Professor R. Merletti, PhD (LISiN, Politecnico di Torino, Italy), for many useful discussions and his criticism in preparing the final version of this work. This study was supported by the Regional Health Administration Project “Ricerca Finalizzata”, Torino, Italy, by the Fondazione CRT and Compagnia di San Paolo di Torino and partially by the RTD European Project “NEW—Neuromuscular Assessment in the Elderly Worker” (QLRT 2000 00139).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Motor Science Research Center, SUISM, Università di Torino, Piazza Bernini 12, 10143, Torino, Italy

    A. Rainoldi

  2. LISiN, Dipartimento di Elettronica, Politecnico di Torino, Italy

    A. Rainoldi & M. Gazzoni

  3. Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Pain Rehabilitation Unit, “Salvatore Maugeri” Foundation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Montescano, Montescano (PV), Italy

    R. Casale

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  1. A. Rainoldi
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  2. M. Gazzoni
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Correspondence to A. Rainoldi.

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Rainoldi, A., Gazzoni, M. & Casale, R. Surface EMG signal alterations in Carpal Tunnel syndrome: a pilot study. Eur J Appl Physiol 103, 233–242 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0694-x

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