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  • Publication
    Embargo
    Assessing stroke-induced abnormal muscle coactivation in the upper limb using the surface EMG co-contraction index: A systematic review
    (Elsevier, 2025)
    Wang, Yong
    ;
    Zhong, Lingling
    ;
    Jin, Minxia
    ;
    Liao, Dantong
    ;
    ;
    Wong, Arnold Y. L.
    ;
    Fong, Gabriel C. H.
    ;
    Bao, Shi-Chun
    ;
    Sun, Rui
    Electromyography (EMG) is increasingly used in stroke assessment research, with studies showing that EMG co-contraction (EMG-CC) of upper limb muscles can differentiate stroke patients from healthy individuals and correlates with clinical scales assessing motor function. This suggests that EMG-CC has potential for both assessing motor impairments and monitoring recovery in stroke patients. However, systematic reviews on EMG-CC’s effectiveness in stroke assessment are lacking. To address this, the present study aims to synthesize recent evidence on EMG-CC’s use in evaluating stroke-induced muscle abnormality. Eighteen studies including a total of 308 stroke patients and 155 healthy controls were included. Fifteen out of Eighteen included studies used the EMG-CC to successfully differentiate abnormal muscle co-contraction performance of the affected upper limb, even in comparison to the unaffected side in static tasks (isometric maximal voluntary contractions) and dynamic tasks (movement-oriented or goal-oriented). The EMG-CC shows promise as a convenient and effective tool for evaluating the extent of abnormal muscle coactivation in the upper limbs of post-stroke patients with spasticity as well as assessing the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions. Further research is needed to validate these findings and establish standardized protocols for EMG-CC’s use in stroke assessment.
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