The potential and limitations of quantitative electromyography in equine medicine

- Quantitative EMG (QEMG) is a useful addition to the clinical examination in diagnosing muscle and nerve disorders in horses.
- Interpretation of QEMG data requires a background knowledge of clinical neurophysiology.
- Quantitative EMG performed in horses follows the same principles as in human medicine.
- Age and muscle differences exist in QEMG and should be taken into account to prevent over-interpretation.

This review discusses the scope of using (quantitative) electromyography (EMG) in diagnosing myopathies and neuropathies in equine patients. In human medicine, many EMG methods are available for the diagnosis, pathophysiological description and evaluation, monitoring, or rehabilitation of patients, and some of these techniques have also been applied to horses. EMG results are usually combined with other neurophysiological data, ultrasound, histochemistry, biochemistry of muscle biopsies, and clinical signs in order to provide a complete picture of the condition and its clinical course. EMG technology is commonly used in human medicine and has been subject to constant development and refinement since its introduction in 1929, but the usefulness of the technique in equine medicine is not yet widely acknowledged. The possibilities and limitations of some EMG applications for equine use are discussed.