Application of Electromyography in Sport Medicine

The aim of this paper is to provide sound principles of electromyography (EMG) signal acquisition and processing in order to optimize signal quality and therefore lead to better interpretation of mechanical muscle output during sport medicine applications and rehabilitation. Some background information is provided on the source of the EMG signal, factors affecting its quality, recording techniques, signal processing, fidelity and reproducibility of the signal, and some applications in sport medicine and rehabilitation. The descriptions of EMG research applications in rehabilitation are not an exhaustive review of all major areas but only a few examples in the areas of signal reliability, muscle activation and timing, and muscle fatigue.

[1]  G. Németh,et al.  Electromyographic Analysis of Muscle Fatigue in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficient Knees , 1997, Clinical orthopaedics and related research.

[2]  I W Hunter,et al.  Quantitative analysis of four EMG amplifiers. , 1993, Journal of biomedical engineering.

[3]  S. McGill,et al.  Appropriately placed surface EMG electrodes reflect deep muscle activity (psoas, quadratus lumborum, abdominal wall) in the lumbar spine. , 1996, Journal of biomechanics.

[4]  M Lamontagne,et al.  Reliability of EMG spectral parameters in repeated measurements of back muscle fatigue. , 1999, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[5]  G F Harris,et al.  "Guided" intramuscular fine wire electrode placement. A new technique. , 1996, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation.

[6]  Mario Lamontagne,et al.  The effects of the EMG sampling rate on the power spectral density under eccentric contractions of the vastus lateralis , 1993 .

[7]  M. Harba,et al.  Parallel cross-correlators for investigating reliability of measurement of muscle fiber conduction velocity using surface EMG , 1996, Proceedings of 18th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[8]  Arnon D. Cohen,et al.  Biomedical Signal Processing , 1986 .

[9]  J J Wertsch,et al.  Anatomical and technical considerations in surface electromyography. , 1998, Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America.

[10]  Carlo J. De Luca,et al.  Use of the surface EMG signal for performance evaluation of back muscles , 1993 .

[11]  D Gravel,et al.  EMG power spectrum of elbow extensors: a reliability study. , 1994, Electromyography and clinical neurophysiology.

[12]  T Limbird,et al.  Pattern analysis of electromyographic linear envelopes exhibited by subjects with uninjured and injured knees during free and fast speed walking , 1992, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[13]  Mario Lamontagne,et al.  Electromyographic Activity in Expert Downhill Skiers Using Functional Knee Braces After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries , 1997, The American journal of sports medicine.

[14]  E. Asmussen,et al.  Biomechanics VI-A , 1978 .

[15]  J. Arokoski,et al.  Back and hip extensor muscle function during therapeutic exercises. , 1999, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[16]  G A Wood,et al.  1994 Nicola Cerulli Young Researchers Award. Downhill walking: a stressful task for the anterior cruciate ligament? A biomechanical study with clinical implications. , 1994, Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA.

[17]  T. Milner,et al.  The effects of skinfold thickness on the selectivity of surface EMG. , 1994, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[18]  Carlo J. De Luca,et al.  The Use of Surface Electromyography in Biomechanics , 1997 .

[19]  S. Nishimura,et al.  Clinical application of an active electrode using an operational amplifier , 1992, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[20]  A. Thorstensson,et al.  Intramuscular EMG from the hip flexor muscles during human locomotion. , 1997, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[21]  S Karlsson,et al.  One-year reproducibility and stability of the signal amplitude ratio and other variables of the electromyogram: test-retest of a shoulder forward flexion test in female workers with neck and shoulder problems. , 1998, Clinical physiology.

[22]  R. Merletti,et al.  Electrically evoked myoelectric signals. , 1992, Critical reviews in biomedical engineering.

[23]  M Lamontagne,et al.  Biomechanical analysis of wheelchair propulsion for various seating positions. , 1992, Journal of rehabilitation research and development.

[24]  A D Morris,et al.  A study of the reproducibility of three different normalisation methods in intramuscular dual fine wire electromyography of the shoulder. , 1998, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[25]  S. Simon,et al.  Spectral and Temporal Responses of Trunk Extensor Electromyography to an Isometric Endurance Test , 1997, Spine.

[26]  H. Kwatny,et al.  An application of signal processing techniques to the study of myoelectric signals. , 1970, IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering.

[27]  M. Kadaba,et al.  Repeatability of phasic muscle activity: Performance of surface and intramuscular wire electrodes in gait analysis , 1985, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[28]  L S Krivickas,et al.  The reliability of monopolar and bipolar fine-wire electromyographic measurement of muscle fatigue. , 1998, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[29]  P A Mathieu,et al.  [Back muscle activity during flexions/extensions in a second group of normal subjects]. , 1999, Annales de chirurgie.

[30]  A. Thorstensson,et al.  Lumbar back muscle activity in relation to trunk movements during locomotion in man. , 1982, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[31]  C L Zimmermann,et al.  EMG Comparison of Lateral Step-up and Stepping Machine Exercise. , 1992, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[32]  T. Moritani,et al.  Electromechanical changes during electrically induced and maximal voluntary contractions: Electrophysiologic responses of different muscle fiber types during stimulated contractions , 1985, Experimental Neurology.

[33]  S. L. H. Notermans,et al.  Current practice of clinical electromyography , 1984 .

[34]  G Németh,et al.  Electromyogram (EMG) recordings from the subscapularis muscle: Description of a technique , 1990, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[35]  M Hagberg,et al.  Muscular endurance and electromyographic fatigue in myofascial shoulder pain. , 1984, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[36]  M R Drost,et al.  EMG Profiles of ACL-Deficient Patients During Walking: The Influence of Mild Fatigue , 1994, International journal of sports medicine.

[37]  M Lamontagne,et al.  The role of the lateral pterygoid muscles in TMJ disorders during static conditions. , 1997, Cranio : the journal of craniomandibular practice.

[38]  A E Grassino,et al.  Automatic assessment of electromyogram quality. , 1995, Journal of applied physiology.

[39]  M. Lamontagne,et al.  Comparisons between surface electrodes and intramuscular wire electrodes in isometric and dynamic conditions. , 1990, Electromyography and clinical neurophysiology.

[40]  J.-J.J. Chen,et al.  A quantitative and qualitative description of electromyographic linear envelopes for synergy analysis , 1992, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.