Muscle Re-Education Following Free Muscle Transfers Using EMG Biofeedback Technique

Introduction: Indications for free muscle transfers (FMT) include Volkman’s Ischemic Contractures, Brachial Plexus Injuries, Post-polio residual paralysis or any other condition where muscle recovery is questionable due to significant trauma. Following injury, loss of extremity function is evident creating cortical changes. Primary function of the FMT is to provide patients with functional extremity and re-establish the cortical pathways. Different options are available for FMT. Upon detachment of muscle for transfers, a denervated muscle undergoes atrophic changes. This muscle atrophy is reversible as the muscle is re-innervated. However, initially, the reinnervating muscle has limited capacity to produce articular motion and thus muscle recovery goes un-noticed. An EMG Biofeedback technique is a useful adjunct in detecting and re-educating muscle recovery in early stages of muscle re-innervation. An EMG Biofeedback technique is a therapeutic procedure, which helps patients recognize muscle recovery and encourage greater voluntary control through auditory and visual signals enhancing cortical awareness of their extremity motion. In addition, an EMG triggered electrical stimulation further enhances muscle strength. The presentation illustrates the use of this technique in enhancing muscle recovery and function following FMT.

Conclusions: An EMG Biofeedback technique is a useful adjunct in detecting and re-educating muscle recovery in early stages of muscle re-innervation. An EMG Biofeedback technique is a therapeutic procedure, which helps patients recognize muscle recovery and encourage greater voluntary control through auditory and visual signals enhancing cortical awareness of their extremity motion.