sEMG-based analysis and evaluation of motor movements in lower extremity patients

Amputation is the process of removing one or more bones or bone fragments from the body by cutting. The first amputation occurred when Heradot cut his own foot due to trauma by the Persian soldier Hegesistratus in 484 BC. In the following years, the amputation process has been continued. Amputations can be different levels. Replantation surgery can be performed after amputation. Replantation is defined as the re-implantation of limbs torn off after trauma. Replantation of the lower extremity is a technically feasible surgical step in amputation due to trauma. Electromyography is defined as bioelectric signals that can be detected from the body's electrical conduction and produced by electrical activity during muscle contraction or relaxation. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the changes in muscle dynamics for basic muscle groups in different levels of amputations and replantations, to create muscle activation maps, and to evaluate how the amputated level changes these muscle dynamics in patients who can be amputated from different levels. In addition, it is also aimed to analyze the differences and changes between the patient groups and control groups, to associate these changes with the rehabilitation processes of the person, and to evaluate the improving effect of physiotherapy. For these purposes, amputee-replant patient group from different levels of unilateral lower extremity and a control group consisting of 15 people were included in this thesis. This thesis is investigated the level-based analysis of the motor functions of unilateral lower extremity different level amputations, their differences with the control, and replanted patient groups. All motor data are compared with the normal groups, and the differences are revealed in terms of muscle activation, their changes in terms of both time and rehabilitation were evaluated. In addition, statistical analyzes are performed for the differences among the control group, amputation group, and replantation group from the features of which muscle activation maps were created and the results obtained from the gait analysis. As a result of the analyzes performed, contractions in some electrode areas that are not found in healthy individuals are observed while performing motor movements in lower extremity amputee and replant patients. İt is revealed that this could be due to the individual not performing the movement fully and shifting the contraction to other directions. According to the statistical analysis results, a difference was observed between the muscle activations of the control and patient groups.