EMG feedback as a muscle reeducation technique: a controlled study.

In an effort to evaluate the efficacy and function of EMG feedback in muscle reeducation, improvement of the abductor function of the abductor hallucis muscle was studied under three training conditions involving 1) EMG feedback, 2) sensory stimulation or 3) equal time for unassisted practice; and a fourth, control condition involving testing without training. Active range of motion was measured before and after training to assess ability to use the muscle as an abductor. EMG activity was quantified for a 1-minute test contraction to evaluate ability to maintain and maximize a voluntary contraction of the target muscle. The results indicated that EMG feedback was highly effective when subjects had little initial use of the target muscle. EMG feedback improved the ability of these subjects to maintain and maximize voluntary muscle contractions, as demonstrated on the EMG measure. EMG feedback did not add to the learning situation when only a relatively brief, phasic contraction was required, as on the range-of-motion measure; similar gains were made with equivalent practive without EMG feedback. When subjects already had considerable use of the target muscle prior to training, EMG feedback may have actually interfered with training; in this case unassisted practice was more effective.