表面肌电信号的肌肉疲劳判别研究进展

肌肉在周期的收缩或静态的拉伸过程中,会渐渐进入疲劳状态,肌肉疲劳特性的研究在康复医学、运动医学领域具有重要作用。表面肌电信号是从肌肉表面通过电极记录下来的反映神经肌肉系统活动的一维时间序列非平稳生物电信号,是评价局部肌肉疲劳的有效工具。本研究从时域和频域、时频域线性方法下的测量指标和非线性方法下的指标来综述表面肌电信号的疲劳研究进展,同时比较各种方法的优缺点,并对使用表面肌电信号来判别疲劳研究做了进一步的展望。     

Sex-related differences in maximal rate of isometric torque development

Sex-differences in the maximum rate of torque development (dτ/dt_max) may be due to differences in maximum muscle strength, because higher torque values mathematically lead to higher values for the rate of change in torque. The rate of change in the isometric torque-time curve is often normalized to the isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) to evaluate males and females on a relative scale. Normalization eliminates sex-differences in dτ/dt_max in the lower limbs because males and females are more comparable (i.e., differences between the sexes are relatively small) with respect to both muscle size and strength. However, normalization fails to result in parody in dτ/dt_max of the upper limb, leading to the idea that other factors may be involved. This study determined if sex-differences in dτ/dt_max in the upper limb can be attributed to differences in isometric MVC and/or a neural variable related to rate of increase in muscle activation (Q₃₀). Forty-six participants (23 males, 23 females) performed maximal isometric elbow flexion contractions, “as hard and as fast as possible”. Maximum torque (τ_max), dτ/dt_max, and the rate of increase in surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity (Q₃₀) were assessed. Muscle plus bone cross-sectional area (M + B CSA) of the upper arm was calculated to estimate differences in muscle size, only for comparative purposes. Maximum strength (55.5%) and muscle size (41.9%) of the elbow flexors in males were much greater than that of females (p < 0.05). There was a large difference (61.2%) between males and females with respect to dτ/dt_max that was reduced by statistical correction using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The percent differences were reduced to 36.7% (p < 0.05) for τ_max and 54.4% (p < 0.05) for Q₃₀, but was nearly eliminated to 13.8% (p > 0.05) when both variables were used simultaneously as covariates. Since sex-differences in the upper limb dτ/dt_max persist, additional neural or biomechanical factors may be involved.     

Functional subdivision of the upper trapezius muscle during maximal isometric contractions

The electromyographic (EMG) activity pattern across the upper trapezius of 22 healthy subjects was investigated during maximal isometric contractions. Eight bipolar surface electrodes with 10 mm distance between adjacent electrode pairs were placed on a line from the clavicle to the scapula. At the region near the clavicle the highest EMG amplitudes were recorded during 90 ° arm abduction. At the more posterior parts the highest amplitudes were found both during arm abduction and shoulder elevation. A double differential recording technique which reduced the EMG cross-talk contribution supported the finding that the upper trapezius was differently activated when the arm posture was changed. The normalized EMG amplitude-force relationship during the shoulder elevation showed a curvilinear relationship on the anterior part of the upper trapezius with a slower increase in EMG amplitude than force at low force. The slope of the curve, at low force, increased gradually in the posterior direction on the upper trapezius. The EMG activity patterns across the upper trapezius indicate a flexibility in motor activation which maybe reflects a functional optimization of the contractions performed by this muscle.     

Acute severe male hypo-testosteronemia affects central motor command in humans

Purpose: To indirectly evaluate the effect of androgens on neuromuscular system in humans we analyzed if an induced short-term hypogonadal state (serum total testosterone-TT < 2.3 ng/ml) may affect central drive to skeletal muscle and/or muscle neuro-mechanical performance. Methods: We compared voluntary and electrically evoked muscle sEMG signals from biceps brachii in nine hypogonadal male volunteers (Hypo) and in ten healthy controls (Cont). Serum TT and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were assayed. Results: With respect to Hypo, Cont exhibited significantly higher median frequency content (MDF) at any angular velocity; normalized MDF [95.9% (SD = 23.3) vs 73.8% (SD = 9.3)]; muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) from lowest to highest angular velocities; initial MDF at fatigue test [91.78 Hz (SD = 22.03) vs 70.94 Hz (SD = 11.06)] as well as was the normalized slope [−0.64 (SD = 0.14 vs −0.5 (SD = 0.11)]. In the non-fatigued state, Hypo showed a slower single twitches time to peak (TTP). In Cont, half relaxation time (HRT) decreased after fatigue while increased in Hypo (p < 0.05 between groups). A significant correlation between both TT and dihydrotestosterone with MDF and CV was found during voluntary contractions only. Conclusions: A brief exposure to very low serum TT concentration in males seem to determine a reduced excitability of the NM system which, in turn, would favor a predominant recruitment of slow twitch MUs.     

Monitoring changes in skin temperature associated with exercise in horses on a water treadmill by use of infrared thermography

Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to assess surface temperature change as an indirect measure of muscle activity and exercise associated changes in blood flow in the working hind limb muscles of horses (n=7) undergoing water treadmill exercise. Three treatments were investigated including the treadmill ran dry (TD), water at the height of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) and water at the height of the carpus (CP). Maximum skin surface temperature was recorded from the region of the semitendinosus muscle during exercise at each water height. There was a significant difference in surface hind limb temperature between exercise on the water treadmill ran dry and with water at the height of the PIP and CP (P<0.0001) with hotter temperatures recorded during the TD treatment. There was a greater increase in surface temperature of the hind limbs from pre exercise to maximum temperature during the PIP and CP treatments when compared to the TD treatment, however, this was not significant (P=0.58). There was no significant difference in surface hind limb temperature found between exercise in water at the height of the PIP and water at the height of the CP. The findings from this study suggest that IRT is able to non-invasively detect muscle activity and associated changes in blood flow whilst horses are exercised on a water treadmill. IRT could potentially be used as an alternative method to assess muscle activity and temperature change in an aquatic environment where existing methods present methodological challenges.     

表面肌电信号的下肢痉挛信号的特征分析与识别

脑卒中患者康复治疗中会引起下肢肌肉痉挛,这种现象给患者的康复训练过程带来极大的危害,因此能够在训练过程中识别痉挛并及时中断训练具有重要的实际意义。本研究通对下肢表面肌电信号的采集,采用基于形状的模版匹配法来识别痉挛信号,并以皮尔逊相关系数来分析表征下肢痉挛信号的相关性大小。分析结果表明,通过仿真验证了模版匹配法在个人痉挛信号识别中的准确性,显示了在泛用痉挛信号识别中的可行性。     

Heterogeneity of muscle activation in relation to force direction: A multi-channel surface electromyography study on the triceps surae muscle

Several skeletal muscles can be divided into sub-modules, called neuromuscular compartments (NMCs), which are thought to be controlled independently and to have distinct biomechanical functions. We looked for distinct muscle activation patterns in the triceps surae muscle (TS) using surface electromyography (EMG) during voluntary contraction. Nine subjects performed isometric and isotonic plantar flexions combined with forces along pre-defined directions. Besides the forces under the ball of the foot, multi-channel surface EMG was measured with electrodes homogeneously distributed over the entire TS. Using principal component analysis, common (global) components were omitted from the EMG signals, thereby estimating muscle activity sufficiently accurate to track fine fluctuations of force during an isotonic contraction (r = 0.80 ± 0.09). A subsequent cluster analysis showed a topographical organization of co-activated parts of the muscle that was different between subjects. Low and negative correlations between the EMG activity within clusters were found, indicating a substantial heterogeneity of TS activation. The correlations between cluster time series and forces at the foot in specific directions differed substantially between clusters, showing that the differentially activated parts of the TS had specific biomechanical functions.     

The influence of geographic variations on the muscular activity in selected sports movements

Surface EMG (SEMG) has been used frequently to study motion techniques or skills, body positions, material or equipment used, training-methodology and learning processes in sports and ergonomics. Little if any information is available on the effect of the geographical environment on the neuromuscular control of an athlete or workman during his/her performance or effort.

Motions were chosen in Alpine skiing and cycling.

Thirty-one certified ski instructors and twelve professional road cyclists participated in the study of geographical variance and its impact on muscle activity.

SEMG was measured from the agonists and antagonists of the upper- and lower limb. Skiers were measured on downhill slopes ranging from 19 to 51% while the cyclists performed with different saddle positions on 2, 7 and 12% slope inclinations, respectively.

Verification of the variation of muscular intensity (IEMG) over the slope inclination during a simulated giant slalom indicated that the muscular activity increased with increasing slope angle and decreased with decreasing slope angle, while heart rate measured with short-range radio telemetry increased at a constant rate between start and finish independent of the geographical variations.

In a direct descent on different slopes % levels the integrated EMG is well related to the inclination (r=0.82) confirming the findings of the giant slalom.

In cycling we found that, regardless of the pelvis position, the muscular intensity of lower limb muscles increased with increasing slope inclination, while the muscular intensity of the arms decreased with the same increasing slope inclination. In addition the decreased intensity of the arm muscles remained significantly higher with the pelvis (saddle) fully forward.

The geography of the terrain did influence the neuromuscular work and therewith probably the performance also. The influence however, varies with specific circumstances and is coupled with items of variability of the equipment used and the body regions involved.     

表面肌电信号采集与降噪处理

目的：本文以设计的表面~g（sEMG）信号采集系统为基础,探讨sEMG信号中的降噪处理问题。方法：结合sEMG信号的噪声影响情况,首先利用带通滤波器消除肌电信号频带外噪声,再通过频谱插值法来抑制工频干扰分量,最后使用小波分析方法来削弱肌电信号频带内噪声。结果：通过对检测sEMG信号的降噪处理,信号噪声得到明显抑制。结论：所设计采集系统能够获得满意的sEMG信号检测效果,所采用降噪方法能够有效提高sEMG信号的质量。     

Standardised surface electromyography allows effective submental muscles assessment

The aims of this pilot study were to evaluate: (i) the reproducibility and variability of an electromyographical protocol developed for the assessment of submental muscles (SM) (ii) to apply the new protocol to maximal teeth clenching, a simple and largely studied static task in order to quantify the relative contribution of submental muscles. In 20 healthy subjects, aged 19–35 years, surface electromyography of SM, masseter (MM) and anterior temporalis (TA) muscles was performed during maximal voluntary clenching (MVC) with and without cotton rolls and the pushing of the tongue against the palate. Clenching on cotton rolls and pushing the tongue against the palate were used to standardise respectively MM and TA, and SM muscular potentials. The exercises were repeated in two appointments (T1–T2); submental muscles standardisation was also repeated twice (A-B) in each session to assess repeatability. Symmetry and activity were calculated for each couple of muscles. A two-way analysis of variance was computed for SM: no Factor 1 (T1 vs T2) or Factor 2 (A vs B) or F1 × F2 significant effects were found. SM recruitment was 31% of the maximal activity, with symmetry values larger than 80%. In conclusion, standardised electromyography allows a reliable assessment of Submental muscles activity.     

表面肌电信号采集与降噪处理

目的:本文以设计的表面肌电(sEMG)信号采集系统为基础,探讨sEMG信号中的降噪处理问题。方法:结合sEMG信号的噪声影响情况,首先利用带通滤波器消除肌电信号频带外噪声,再通过频谱插值法来抑制工频干扰分量,最后使用小波分析方法来削弱肌电信号频带内噪声。结果:通过对检测sEMG信号的降噪处理,信号噪声得到明显抑制。结论:所设计采集系统能够获得满意的sEMG信号检测效果,所采用降噪方法能够有效提高sEMG信号的质量。