The Role of Surface Electromyography and Movement Analysis in Stroke: A Scoping Review

Background: Surface electromyography (sEMG) and movement analysis are increasingly applied to characterize neuromuscular impairments and guide rehabilitation after stroke. Objectives: To synthesize recent literature on the application of sEMG and movement analysis in adult stroke rehabilitation, identify trends and gaps, and discuss implications for clinical practice and future research. Methods: A non-systematic scoping search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using combinations of “Movement analysis”, “Gait analysis”, “Electromyography”, and “Stroke.” The first 100 relevant articles (determined by title and abstract relevance) reaching data saturation were included. Data were extracted into a comparative table with fields for study descriptors, outcomes, main results, and clinical implications. Results: Publications increased from the 1990s with a concentration around 2017. Rehabilitation journals accounted for the largest share, followed by neuroscience and engineering. Motion analysis dominated study aims (62%); experimental designs were predominant (82%). Only a minority of studies used sEMG as a primary outcome measure. Most research focused on chronic stroke and lower-limb gait, though a substantial portion addressed upper-limb function. Limitations included methodological heterogeneity, underrepresentation of acute/subacute phases, and limited use of randomized designs. Conclusions: sEMG and movement analysis offer complementary, clinically relevant insights for personalized post-stroke rehabilitation, but broader, standardized adoption—particularly in acute/subacute settings and as routine outcome measures—is needed to translate advances into improved patient care.