Surface-Electromyography-Based Co-Contraction Index for Monitoring Upper Limb Improvements in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Secondary Analysis

Persons post-stroke experience excessive muscle co-contraction, and consequently the arm functions are compromised during activities of daily living. Therefore, identifying instrumental outcome measures able to detect motor strategy adopted after a stroke is primary clinical goal. Accordingly, this study aims at verifying whether surface electromyography (sEMG)-based co-contraction index (CCI) could be new clinically feasible approach for assessing monitoring patients’ performance. Thirty-four persons underwent assessment upper extremity kinematic analysis, including sEMG recordings. The participants were randomized into two treatment groups (robot usual care groups). Ten healthy subjects provided normative reference (NR). Frost’s CCI was used quantify three different agonist/antagonist pairs an object-placing task. showed (mean (95% CI): anterior/posterior deltoid CCI: 0.38 (0.34–0.41) p = 0.03; triceps/biceps 0.46 (0.41–0.50) 0.01) compared NR (anterior/posterior 0.29 (0.21–0.36); 0.34 (0.30–0.39)). After robot therapy, exhibited greater improvement (i.e., reduced CCI) in proximal control change score −0.02 (−0.07–0.02) 0.05) therapy (0.04 (0.00–0.09)). Finally, findings present indicate that sEMG-based valuable tool practice.