The Use of Surface Electromyography in Biomechanics by Carlo De
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Transcript The Use of Surface Electromyography in Biomechanics by Carlo De
The Use of Surface Electromyography in
Biomechanics by Carlo De Luca
JAB Vol 13, p 135-163; 1997
To its detriment, EMG is too easy to use and consequently
too easy to abuse.
EMG provides easy access to physiological processes that
cause the muscle to generate force and produce movement.
EMG has many limitations that must be understood,
considered, and eventually removed so that the discipline
is more scientifically based.
EMG signal/force Relationship Pitfalls
Is the EMG signal detected and recorded with maximum fidelity?
What are the configuration, dimension, and electrical characteristics
of the electrode unit?
How Should the EMG signal be analyzed?
How are initiation and cessation times of EMG signal measured?
What are the preferred parameters for measuring the amplitude of
the EMG signal?
What are the preferred parameters for measuring the frequency
spectrum?
Where does the detected EMG signal originate?
Is there any crosstalk?
Where is the electrode placed on the surface of the muscle in
relation to its anatomical structure?
How much fatty tissue is there between the electrode and the muscle
surface?
EMG signal/force Relationship Pitfalls
Is the EMG signal sufficiently stationary for the intended analysis and
interpretation?
Does the muscle change length?
Is the activation pattern of the motor units stable? That is, do some
motor units alternate between the state of recruitment and
derecruitment?
Where does the measured force originate?
What is the state of the synergistic and antagonistic muscles
associated with the task?
Are the motor control characteristics of the contraction stable for
the intended interpretation? Is there any change in the relative
force contribution among muscles during the contraction?
Is the force generated homogenously throughout the muscle?
Electrode Structure and Placement Factors
Electrode configuration describes:
The area and shape of the electrode detection surfaces, which
determine the number of active motor units detected by virtue of
the number of muscle fibers in their vicinity, and
the distance between the electrode detection surfaces, which
determines the bandwidth of the differential electrode
configuration.
Location of the electrode with respect to the motor points in the muscle
and the myotendinous junction, which influences the amplitude and
frequency characteristics of the detected signal.
Location of the electrode on the muscle surface with respect to the
lateral edge of the muscle, which determines the amount of crosstalk.
Orientation of the detection surfaces with respect to the muscle fibers,
which affects the value of cond. vel., amplitude and frequency of
signal.
Physiological, Anatomical, and Biochemical Factors
The number of motor units at any particular time of the contraction,
which contributes to the amplitude of the detected signal.
Fiber type composition of the muscle, which determines the change in
pH of the muscle during a contraction.
Blood flow in the muscle, which determines the rate at which
metabolites are removed during the contraction.
Fiber diameter, which influences the amplitude and conduction
velocity of the action potentials that constitute the signal.
Depth and location of the active fibers within the muscle with respect
to the electrode detection surfaces; this relationship determines the
spatial filtering, and consequently the amplitude and frequency
characteristics of the detected signal.
The amount of tissue between the surface of the muscle and the
electrode, which affects the spatial filtering of the signal.
Detection and Processing the EMG Signal
Differential Electrode Configuration:
Detection surfaces two parallel bars 1 cm apart
Bandwidth of 20-500Hz with a rolloff of 12 dB/octave
Common Mode Rejection Ratio > 80 dB
Noise < 2 uV RMS (20-500 Hz)
Input Impedance > 100 MegaOhms
Locate the electrode on the midline of the muscle belly, between the
myotendinous junction and the nearest innervation zone, with the
electrodes aligned parallel to the muscle fibers.
Use RMS or average rectified EMG to measure the amplitude.
Comparisons Among Subjects, Muscles and Contractions
EMG/Force comparisons should be limited to isometric contractions
with the joint constrained to limit the effects of other muscles
In dynamic movements use contractions that have the least amount of
shortening and the slowest velocity and interpret the results with
caution.
In repetitive dynamic contractions choose small sections of the motion
to analyze.
When normalizing the amplitude of the EMG signal, do so at less than
80% MVC. Above this level, the EMG signal and force (torque) are
exceptionally unstable and do not provide a suitable reference.
Measure MVC by choosing the greatest of three consecutive attempts.
Problems to be Resolved in EMG/Force Relations
Develop a surface detection that follows the movement of the muscle
fibers.
Develop online EMG measurement
Develop a method to estimate muscle force with +- 5% from surface
EMG.
How do muscle fibers transmit force throughout the muscle
Does a muscle generate force homogeneously throughout its volume.
Describe ansiotropy of muscle, fascia, fat and skin as related to EMG.
Refine anatomically correct biomechanical models of the
musculoskeletal system.
Issues for International Agreement
Electrode configuration and dimensions.
Electrode placement and orientation.
Means for processing the EMG signal for amplitude and spectral
analysis.
Means for determining the delay between force and the EMG signal.
Procedure for determining MVC
Procedures for establishing repeatability of the EMG:
among contractions when the experimental conditions are fixed
among contractions when the electrodes are reapplied
among muscles
among subjects