Assessment of low back muscle fatigue by surface EMG signal analysis: methodological aspects.

This paper focuses on methodological issues related to surface electromyographic (EMG) signal detection from the low back muscles. In particular, we analysed (1) the characteristics (in terms of propagating components) of the signals detected from these muscles; (2) the effect of electrode location on the variables extracted from surface EMG; (3) the effect of the inter-electrode distance (IED) on the same variables; (4) the possibility of assessing fatigue during high and very low force level contractions. To address these issues, we detected single differential surface EMG signals by arrays of eight electrodes from six locations on the two sides of the spine, at the levels of the first (L1), the second (L2), and the fifth (L5) lumbar vertebra. In total, 42 surface EMG channels were acquired at the same time during both high and low force, short and long duration contractions. The main results were: (1) signal quality is poor with predominance of non-travelling components; (2) as a consequence of point (1), in the majority of the cases it is not possible to reliably estimate muscle fiber conduction velocity; (3) despite the poor signal quality, it was possible to distinguish the fatigue properties of the investigated muscles and the fatigability at different contraction levels; (4) IED affects the sensitivity of surface EMG variables to electrode location and large IEDs are suggested when spectral and amplitude analysis is performed; (5) the sensitivity of surface EMG variables to changes in electrode location is on average larger than for other muscles with less complex architecture; (6) IED influences amplitude initial values and slopes, and spectral variable initial values; (7) normalized slopes for both amplitude and spectral variables are not affected by IED and, thus, are suggested for fatigue analysis at different postures or during movement, when IED may change in different conditions (in case of separated electrodes); (8) the surface EMG technique at the global level of amplitude and spectral analysis cannot be used to characterize fatigue properties of low back muscles during very low level, long duration contractions since in these cases the non-stable MU pool has a major influence on the EMG variables. These considerations clarify issues only partially investigated in past studies. The limitations indicated above are important and should be carefully discussed when presenting surface EMG results as a means for low back muscle assessment in clinical practice.     

Neural coupling between upper and lower limbs during recumbent stepping.

During gait rehabilitation, therapists or robotic devices often supply physical assistance to a patient's lower limbs to aid stepping. The expensive equipment and intensive manual labor required for these therapies limit their availability to patients. One alternative solution is to design devices where patients could use their upper limbs to provide physical assistance to their lower limbs (i.e., self-assistance). To explore potential neural effects of coupling upper and lower limbs, we investigated neuromuscular recruitment during self-driven and externally driven lower limb motion. Healthy subjects exercised on a recumbent stepper using different combinations of upper and lower limb exertions. The recumbent stepper mechanically coupled the upper and lower limbs, allowing users to drive the stepping motion with upper and/or lower limbs. We instructed subjects to step with 1) active upper and lower limbs at an easy resistance level (active arms and legs); 2) active upper limbs and relaxed lower limbs at easy, medium, and hard resistance levels (self-driven); and 3) relaxed upper and lower limbs while another person drove the stepping motion (externally driven). We recorded surface electromyography (EMG) from six lower limb muscles. Self-driven EMG amplitudes were always higher than externally driven EMG amplitudes (P < 0.05). As resistance and upper limb exertion increased, self-driven EMG amplitudes also increased. EMG bursts during self-driven and active arms and legs stepping occurred at similar times. These results indicate that active upper limb movement increases neuromuscular activation of the lower limbs during cyclic stepping motions. Neurologically impaired humans that actively engage their upper limbs during gait rehabilitation may increase neuromuscular activation and enhance activity-dependent plasticity.     

Corticomuscular Transmission of Tremor Signals by Propriospinal Neurons in Parkinson's Disease

Cortical oscillatory signals of single and double tremor frequencies act together to cause tremor in the peripheral limbs of patients with Parkinson''s disease (PD). But the corticospinal pathway that transmits the tremor signals has not been clarified, and how alternating bursts of antagonistic muscle activations are generated from the cortical oscillatory signals is not well understood. This paper investigates the plausible role of propriospinal neurons (PN) in C3–C4 in transmitting the cortical oscillatory signals to peripheral muscles. Kinematics data and surface electromyogram (EMG) of tremor in forearm were collected from PD patients. A PN network model was constructed based on known neurophysiological connections of PN. The cortical efferent signal of double tremor frequencies were integrated at the PN network, whose outputs drove the muscles of a virtual arm (VA) model to simulate tremor behaviors. The cortical efferent signal of single tremor frequency actuated muscle spindles. By comparing tremor data of PD patients and the results of model simulation, we examined two hypotheses regarding the corticospinal transmission of oscillatory signals in Parkinsonian tremor. Hypothesis I stated that the oscillatory cortical signals were transmitted via the mono-synaptic corticospinal pathways bypassing the PN network. The alternative hypothesis II stated that they were transmitted by way of PN multi-synaptic corticospinal pathway. Simulations indicated that without the PN network, the alternating burst patterns of antagonistic muscle EMGs could not be reliably generated, rejecting the first hypothesis. However, with the PN network, the alternating burst patterns of antagonist EMGs were naturally reproduced under all conditions of cortical oscillations. The results suggest that cortical commands of single and double tremor frequencies are further processed at PN to compute the alternating burst patterns in flexor and extensor muscles, and the neuromuscular dynamics demonstrated a frequency dependent damping on tremor, which may prevent tremor above 8 Hz to occur.     

Electromyographic activity of lower limbs to stop baseball batting

We investigated the muscle activation pattern of the lower limbs for the stopping motion of baseball batting by recording surface electromyography (EMG) from 8 muscles, the left and right rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles. First, muscle activities for 'Swing' and 'Stopping' trials were examined in 10 skilled baseball players and 10 unskilled novices. Second, the characteristics of EMG activities for 'Stopping' were compared between the 2 groups. The peak latencies of EMG were significantly shorter in 'Stopping' than in 'Swing' at the right-TA, left-BF, and left-MG between both groups. The peak amplitudes of EMG activity were significantly larger in 'Swing' than in 'Stopping' at the right-TA, left-BF, and left-MG in both groups. In addition, the peak amplitudes of EMG activity for 'Stopping' were significantly larger in the players than in novices at the right-RF and right-TA. The characteristics of EMG activity clearly differed between 'Swing' and 'Stopping,' and between baseball players and nonplayers, indicating that evaluating the EMG activity in batting enables the understanding of proficiency. Our findings should help players, novices, and coaches to optimize batting performance.     

The effect of textured surfaces on postural stability and lower limb muscle activity

Textured insoles may enhance sensory input on the plantar surfaces of the feet, thereby influencing neuromuscular function. The aim of this study was to investigate whether textured surfaces alter postural stability and lower limb muscle activity during quiet bipedal standing balance with eyes open. Anterior–posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) sway variables and the intensity of electromyographic (EMG) activity in eight dominant lower limb muscles were collected synchronously over 30 s in 24 young adults under three randomised conditions: control surface (C), texture 1 (T1) and texture 2 (T2). Repeated measures ANOVA showed that the textured surfaces did not significantly affect AP or ML postural sway in comparison to the control condition (p > 0.05). Neither did the textured surfaces significantly alter EMG activity in the lower limbs (p > 0.05). Under the specific conditions of this study, texture did not affect either postural sway or lower limb muscle activity in static bipedal standing. The results of this study point to three areas of further work including the effect of textured surfaces on postural stability and lower limb muscle activity: (i) in young healthy adults under more vigorous dynamic balance tests, (ii) post-fatigue, and (iii) in older adults presenting age-related deterioration.     

Bilateral impairments of shoulder abduction in chronic hemiparesis: Electromyographic patterns and isokinetic muscle performance

ObjectiveTo analyze electromyographic (EMG) patterns and isokinetic muscle performance of shoulder abduction movement in individuals who sustained a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).DesignTwenty-two individuals who sustained a CVA and 22 healthy subjects volunteered for EMG activity and isokinetic shoulder abduction assessments. EMG onset time, root mean square (RMS) for upper trapezius and deltoid muscles, as well as the isokinetic variables of peak torque, total work, average power and acceleration time were compared between limbs and groups.ResultsThe paretic side showed a different onset activation pattern in shoulder abduction, along with a lower RMS for both muscles (21.8 ± 13.4% of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for the deltoid and 25.9 ± 15.3% MVIC for the upper trapezius, about 50% lower than the control group). The non-paretic side showed a delay in both muscles activation and a lower RMS for the deltoid (32.2 ± 13.7% MVIC, about 25% lower than the control group). Both sides of the group of individuals who sustained a CVA presented a significantly lower isokinetic performance compared to the control group (paretic side ～60% lower; non-paretic side ～35% lower).ConclusionsShoulder abduction muscle performance is impaired in both paretic and non-paretic limbs of individuals who sustained a CVA.     

Homologous Muscle Contraction during Unilateral Movement Does Not Show a Dominant Effect on Leg Representation of the Ipsilateral Primary Motor Cortex

Co-activation of homo- and heterotopic representations in the primary motor cortex (M1) ipsilateral to a unilateral motor task has been observed in neuroimaging studies. Further analysis showed that the ipsilateral M1 is involved in motor execution along with the contralateral M1 in humans. Additionally, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies have revealed that the size of the co-activation in the ipsilateral M1 has a muscle-dominant effect in the upper limbs, with a prominent decline of inhibition within the ipsilateral M1 occurring when a homologous muscle contracts. However, the homologous muscle-dominant effect in the ipsilateral M1 is less clear in the lower limbs. The present study investigates the response of corticospinal output and intracortical inhibition in the leg representation of the ipsilateral M1 during a unilateral motor task, with homo- or heterogeneous muscles. We assessed functional changes within the ipsilateral M1 and in corticospinal outputs associated with different contracting muscles in 15 right-handed healthy subjects. Motor tasks were performed with the right-side limb, including movements of the upper and lower limbs. TMS paradigms were measured, consisting of short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and recruitment curves (RCs) of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the right M1, and responses were recorded from the left rectus femoris (RF) and left tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. TMS results showed that significant declines in SICI and prominent increases in MEPs of the left TA and left RF during unilateral movements. Cortical activations were associated with the muscles contracting during the movements. The present data demonstrate that activation of the ipsilateral M1 on leg representation could be increased during unilateral movement. However, no homologous muscle-dominant effect was evident in the leg muscles. The results may reflect that functional coupling of bilateral leg muscles is a reciprocal movement.     

Surface EMG variability while running on grass,concrete and treadmill

This study aimed to investigate whether inter-trial variability in muscle activity (electromyography, EMG) during running is influenced by the number of acquired steps and running surface. Nine healthy participants ran at preferred speed on treadmill, concrete, and grass. Tibial acceleration and surface EMG from 12 lower limb muscles were recorded. The coefficient of variation (CV) from the average EMG and peak EMG were computed from 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 steps in each running surface. Data average stability was computed using sequential estimation technique (SET) from 100 steps. The CV for average and peak EMG was lower during treadmill running compared to running on grass (−11 ± 2.88%) or concrete (−9 ± 2.94%) (p < 0.05), without differences across the different number of steps. Moreover, the peak EMG CV from peroneus longus was lower on concrete (p < 0.05), whereas gluteus maximus presented greater variability on grass compared to concrete (p < 0.05). The SET analysis revealed that average stability is reached with up to 10 steps across all running conditions. Therefore, treadmill running induced greater variability compared to overground, without influence of the number of steps on EMG variability. Moreover, average stability for EMG recordings may be reached with up to 10 steps.     

Sitting on a Sloping Seat Does Not Reduce the Strain Sustained by the Postural Chain

The objective of this study was to explore the effect of a forward sloping seat on posture and muscular activity of the trunk and lower limbs. To this aim, twelve asymptomatic participants were tested in six conditions varying seat slope (0°, 15° forward) and height (high, medium, low). Angular position of head, trunk and pelvis was assessed with an inertial orientation system, and muscular activity of 11 superficial postural muscles located in the trunk and lower limbs was estimated using normalized EMG. Results showed that a forward sloping seat, compared to a flat seat, induced a greater activity of the soleus (p<0.01), vastus lateralis (p<0.05) and vastus medialis (p<0.05), as well a lower hip flexion (p<0.01). In contrast, no significant variation of head, trunk and pelvis angular position was observed according to seat slope. It was concluded that forward sloping seats increase the load sustained by the lower limbs, without a systematic improvement of body posture.     

Statistical modelling of fatigue-related electromyographic median frequency characteristics of back and hip muscles during a standardized isometric back extension test.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate which statistical model - linear, logarithmic, quadratic or exponential - best described the fatigue-related electromyographic (EMG) changes of back and hip muscles. Twenty healthy volunteers performed a modified Biering-Sorensen test. The EMG activity of the latissimus dorsi (LD), longissimus thoracis pars thoracis (LTT) and lumborum (LTL), iliocostalis lumborum pars thoracis (ILT) and lumborum (ILL), multifidus (MF), gluteus maximus (GM) and biceps femoris (BF) was measured bilaterally using surface electrodes. Higher R(2) values were found for the quadratic models (p<0.05 for all muscles), and lower R(2) values for the logarithmic models (p<0.05 for LTT, LTL, ILL, MF and GM). The exponential models generated higher R(2) values compared to the linear ones for the LTT, LTL and MF (all p<0.05). Further analyses revealed, however, that these models did not add useful additional information, and therefore would only increase the complexity. The findings of the current study validate the use of simple linear regression techniques when studying fatigue-related EMG median frequency characteristics of back and hip muscles during isometric contractions.     

A maximal isokinetic pedalling exercise for EMG normalization in cycling

An isometric maximal voluntary contraction (iMVC) is mostly used for the purpose of EMG normalization, a procedure described in the scientific literature in order to compare muscle activity among different muscles and subjects. However, the use of iMVC has certain limitations. The aims of the present study were therefore to propose a new method for the purpose of EMG amplitude normalization in cycling and assess its reliability. Twenty-three cyclists performed 10 trials of a maximal isokinetic protocol (MIP) on a cycle ergometer, then another four sub-maximal trials, whilst the EMG activity of four lower limbs muscles was registered. During the 10 trials power output (CV = 2.19) and EMG activity (CV between 4.46 and 8.70) were quite steady. Furthermore, their maximal values were reached within the 4th trial. In sub-maximal protocol EMG activity exhibited an increase as a function of exercise intensity.MIP entails a maximal dynamic contraction of the muscles involved in the pedalling action and the normalization session is performed under the same biomechanical conditions as the following test session. Thus, it is highly cycling-specific.MIP has good logical validity and within-subject reproducibility. Three trials are enough for the purpose of EMG normalization in cycling.     

Neuronal adaptation of corticospinal mechanisms of muscle contraction regulation in athletes

Adaptation changes in the corticospinal mechanisms of muscle contraction control in athletes were investigated. Using the transcranial magnetic stimulation method, the parameters of motor evoked potentials of skeletal muscles of the lower limbs during voluntary static loads of various intensities and durations were measured. Athletes, as compared to the reference group, exhibited a greater increase in the maximal amplitude of the motor evoked potentials of the skeletal muscles of the lower limbs, a smaller decrease in the central motor conduction time of nerve pulses and the peripheral period in electromyograms, and a smaller increase in the cortical and segmental silent periods with increasing intensity and duration of isometric muscle contractions. The mechanisms of adaptation of corticospinal regulation of human muscle contraction to specific conditions of extreme motor activities are discussed.     

Correlations between short-time Fourier- and continuous wavelet transforms in the analysis of localized back and hip muscle fatigue during isometric contractions.

The aims of the current study were to examine the stationarities of surface electromyographic (EMG) signals obtained from eight bilateral back and hip muscles during a modified Biering-Sørensen test, and to investigate whether short-time Fourier (STFT) and continuous wavelet transforms (CWT) provided similar information with regard to EMG spectral parameters in the analysis of localized muscle fatigue. Twenty healthy subjects participated in the study after giving their informed consent. Reverse arrangement tests showed that 91.6% of the EMG signal epochs demonstrated no significant trends (all p > 0.05), meaning 91.6% of the EMG signal epochs could be considered as stationary signals. Pearson correlation coefficients showed that STFT and CWT in general provide similar information with respect to the EMG spectral variables during isometric back extensions, and as a consequence STFT can still be used.     

Motor strategy patterns study of diabetic neuropathic individuals while walking. A wavelet approach

The aim of this study was to investigate muscle?s energy patterns and spectral properties of diabetic neuropathic individuals during gait cycle using wavelet approach. Twenty-one diabetic patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, and 21 non-diabetic individuals were assessed during the whole gait cycle. Activation patterns of vastus lateralis, medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior were studied by means of bipolar surface EMG. The signal?s energy and frequency were compared between groups using t-test. The energy was compared in each frequency band (7–542 Hz) using ANOVAs for repeated measures for each group and each muscle. The diabetic individuals displayed lower energies in lower frequency bands for all muscles and higher energies in higher frequency bands for the extensors? muscles. They also showed lower total energy of gastrocnemius and a higher total energy of vastus, considering the whole gait cycle. The overall results suggest a change in the neuromuscular strategy of the main extensor muscles of the lower limb of diabetic patients to compensate the ankle extensor deficit to propel the body forward and accomplish the walking task.     

Electromyographic analysis of the serratus anterior and trapezius muscles during push-ups on stable and unstable bases in subjects with scapular dyskinesis

The present study was performed to assess the electromyographic activity of the scapular muscles during push-ups on a stable and unstable surface, in subjects with scapular dyskinesis. Muscle activation (upper trapezius [UT]; lower trapezius [LT]; upper serratus anterior [SA_5th]; lower serratus anterior [SA_7th]) and ratios (UT/LT; UT/SA_5th; UT/ SA_7th) levels were determined by surface EMG in 30 asymptomatic men with scapular dyskinesis, during push-up performed on a stable and unstable surface. Multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measures was used for statistical analyses. The unstable surface caused a decrease in the EMG activity of the serratus anterior and an increase in EMG activity of the trapezius (p = 0.001). UT/SA_5th and UT/ SA_7th ratios were higher during unstable push-ups (p = 0.001). The results suggest that, in individuals with scapular dyskinesis, there is increased EMG activity of the trapezius and decreased EMG activity of the serratus anterior in response to an unstable surface. These results suggest that the performance of the push up exercise on an unstable surface may be more favorable to produce higher levels of trapezius activation and lower levels of serratus anterior activation. However, if the goal of the exercise program is the strengthening of the SA muscle, it is suggested to perform the push up on a stable surface.     

The effect of handedness on electromyographic activity of human shoulder muscles during movement.

The aim of the study was to investigate whether there was a difference in the electromyographic (EMG) activity of human shoulder muscles between the dominant and nondominant side during movement and to explore whether a possible side-difference depends on the specific task. We compared the EMG activity with surface and intramuscular electrodes in eight muscles of both shoulders in 20 healthy subjects whose hand preference was evaluated using a standard questionnaire. EMG signals were recorded during abduction and external rotation. During abduction, the normalized EMG activity was significantly smaller on the dominant side compared to the nondominant side for all the muscles except for infraspinatus and lower trapezius (P 相似文献   

Phase-dependent responses in locomotor muscles of walking man

Bilateral reflex responses in locomotor muscles were studied in normal human subjects walking on a treadmill. Reflex responses were elicited in response to a momentary resistance applied to one leg. The responses were recorded electromyographically from superficial muscles of both lower limbs: the vastus lateralis, gluteus medius and tibialis anterior. A four-channel storage oscilloscope displayed a quartet record which consisted of phases of the walking cycle and patterns of EMG activity. Resistance and response data were collected for comparison. The appearance of reflex responses was found to be conditioned. The following two observations provide the phase-dependent characteristics of those responses: muscles of the ipsilateral limb elicited responses throughout the walking cycle regardless of whether the muscles were active or silent and muscles of the contralateral limb produced responses that depended on the point at which resistance occurred during the walking cycle. Discusion follows concerning inhibition of the response that may be responsible for this phase-dependent phenomenon.     

EMG power spectra of trunk muscles during graded maximal voluntary isometric contraction in flexion-rotation and extension-rotation

The purpose of this study was to determine the electromyographic (EMG) power spectral characteristics of seven trunk muscles bilaterally during two complex isometric activities extension-rotation and flexion-rotation, in both genders to describe the frequency-domain parameters. Eighteen normal young subjects volunteered for the study. The subjects performed steadily increasing isometric extension-rotation and flexion-rotation contractions in a standard trunk posture (40 degrees flexed and 40 degrees rotated to the right). A surface EMG was recorded from the external and internal oblique, rectus abdominis, pectoralis, latissimus dorsi, and erector spinae muscles at the 10th thoracic and the 3rd lumbar vertebral levels, at 1 kHz and 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The median frequency (MF), mean power frequency (MPF), frequency spread and peak power were obtained from fast Fourier transform analysis. The MF and MPF for both extension-rotation and flexion-rotation increased with the grade of contraction for both males and females. The EMG spectra in flexion-rotation were different from those of extension-rotation (P < 0.001). The left external and right internal oblique muscles played the role of antagonists in trunk extension-rotation. There was an increase in the MF of the trunk muscles with increasing magnitude of contraction. Frequency-domain parameters for both the male and female subjects were significantly different (P < 0.001).     

Adaptive filtering for ECG rejection from surface EMG recordings.

Surface electromyograms (EMG) of back muscles are often corrupted by electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. This noise in the EMG signals does not allow to appreciate correctly the spectral content of the EMG signals and to follow its evolution during, for example, a fatigue process. Several methods have been proposed to reject the ECG noise from EMG recordings, but seldom taking into account the eventual changes in ECG characteristics during the experiment. In this paper we propose an adaptive filtering algorithm specifically developed for the rejection of the electrocardiogram corrupting surface electromyograms (SEMG). The first step of the study was to choose the ECG electrode position in order to record the ECG with a shape similar to that found in the noised SEMGs. Then, the efficiency of different algorithms were tested on 28 erector spinae SEMG recordings. The best algorithm belongs to the fast recursive least square family (FRLS). More precisely, the best results were obtained with the simplified formulation of a FRLS algorithm. As an application of the adaptive filtering, the paper compares the evolutions of spectral parameters of noised or denoised (after adaptive filtering) surface EMGs recorded on erector spinae muscles during a trunk extension. The fatigue test was analyzed on 16 EMG recordings. After adaptive filtering, mean initial values of energy and of mean power frequency (MPF) were significantly lower and higher respectively. The differences corresponded to the removal of the ECG components. Furthermore, classical fatigue criteria (increase in energy and decrease in MPF values over time during the fatigue test) were better observed on the denoised EMGs. The mean values of the slopes of the energy-time and MPF-time linear relationships differed significantly when established before and after adaptive filtering. These results account for the efficacy of the adaptive filtering method proposed here to denoise electrophysiological signals.