Abstract

Surface electromyography (sEMG) measures myoelectrical signals recorded from sensors placed on the skin surface. The non-invasive nature of sEMG makes it a potentially useful technology for studying diseases of muscle and nerve. Reviews published by the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) and the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), covering 1964-1994 and 1952-1998, respectively, concluded that sEMG adds no clinical utility over conventional needle EMG (nEMG) for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease. The AANEM sEMG task force reevaluated the diagnostic utility and added value of this technology for the study of neuromuscular disease based on a contemporary review of relevant literature published between January 1994 and February 2006. The present review concludes that sEMG may be useful to detect the presence of neuromuscular disease (level C rating, class III data), but there are insufficient data to support its utility for distinguishing between neuropathic and myopathic conditions or for the diagnosis of specific neuromuscular diseases. sEMG may be useful for additional study of fatigue associated with post-poliomyelitis syndrome and electromechanical function in myotonic dystrophy (level C rating, class III data).

View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.21055

View details for Web of Science ID 000259843700001

View details for PubMedID 18816611