Electromyography (EMG) examination on motor unit alterations after stroke

With technical advances in both electrode design and signal processing, electromyography (EMG) has broad applicability for assessing properties of single muscle fibers, motor units, gross muscle, or muscle groups. Different EMG techniques have been applied to assess paretic muscle changes in stroke patients, and a number of abnormalities have been identified. In this chapter, we provide a summary of findings from EMG examination of paretic muscles after stroke, with a view toward better understanding motor unit alterations underlying muscle weakness and other associated changes.