scholarly journals Effects of Sampling Frequency and Sample Window Size on Median Frequency of Surface EMG

Author(s):  
Pramiti Sarker ◽  
Gary Mirka

Muscle fatigue can be evaluated through the assessment of the downward shift in the median frequency (MDF) of the electromyographic (EMG) signal collected through surface electromyography. Previous research has shown that the value of MDF may be affected by sampling parameters. The purpose of this study was to quantify the combined effect of different sampling frequencies and window sizes on the calculated MDF. A sample of 24 participants performed a simple static elbow flexion exertion (15% MVC) and the EMG activity of the biceps brachii was periodically sampled using surface electrodes for four seconds at a frequency of 4096 Hz as the biceps brachii became fatigued. These collected data were then down-sampled to create a dataset of four window sizes (1s, 2s, 3s, and 4s) and five sampling frequencies (256 Hz, 512 Hz, 1024 Hz, 2048 Hz, and 4096 Hz). Median frequencies were calculated for each combination of sampling frequency and window size and then compared with the 4096 Hz / 4 s condition (considered gold standard) and the errors were calculated. Results suggest the use of a minimum sampling frequency of 512 Hz and a window size of 4s.

2020 ◽  
pp. 003151252094908
Author(s):  
Rafael A. Fujita ◽  
Marina M. Villalba ◽  
Nilson R. S. Silva ◽  
Matheus M. Pacheco ◽  
Matheus M. Gomes

Co-contraction training has demonstrated similar electromyographic (EMG) activity levels compared to conventional strength training. Since verbal instructions can increase EMG activity on target muscles during conventional exercises, the same should occur during co-contraction. In this study we analyzed whether different verbal instructions would alter the EMG activity of target muscles - biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii lateral head (TB) - during co-contraction training for the elbow joint. Seventeen males with experience in strength training performed a co-contraction set in two verbal instruction conditions to emphasize either elbow flexion or elbow extension. Surface electrodes were fixed over biceps brachii and triceps brachii lateral head muscles. We measured EMG mean amplitude and analyzed data with 2-way ANOVA. We found a significant interaction between muscle and verbal instruction ( p = 0.002). Post hoc tests indicated that verbal instructions ( p = 0.001) influenced the BB EMG activity (elbow flexion: M = 68.74, SD = 17.96%; elbow extension: M = 53.47, SD = 16.13%); and also showed difference ( p = 0.006) in the EMG activity between BB and TB with verbal instruction emphasizing the elbow extension (BB: M = 53.47, SD = 16.13%; TB: M = 69.18, SD = 21.79%). There was a difference in the EMG ratio of BB/TB ( p = 0.001) when focusing on elbow flexion ( M = 1.09, SD = 0.30) versus elbow extension ( M = 0.81, SD = 0.25). As verbal instruction modified the magnitude of muscle recruitment during co-contractions for elbow joint muscles, there is a clear mind-muscle connection of importance to this method of training. Also, of importance to trainers, verbal instructions seemed to affect individuals differentially.


2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 1720-1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorsten Rudroff ◽  
Didier Staudenmann ◽  
Roger M. Enoka

The study compared changes in intramuscular and surface recordings of EMG amplitude with ultrasound measures of muscle architecture of the elbow flexors during a submaximal isometric contraction. Ten subjects performed a fatiguing contraction to task failure at 20% of maximal voluntary contraction force. EMG activity was recorded in biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis muscles using intramuscular and surface electrodes. The rates of increase in the amplitude of the surface EMG for the long and short heads of biceps brachii and brachioradialis were greater than those for the intramuscular recordings measured at different depths. The amplitude of the intramuscular recordings from three muscles increased at a similar rate ( P = 0.13), as did the amplitude of the three surface recordings from two muscles ( P = 0.83). The increases in brachialis thickness (27.7 ± 5.7 to 30.9 ± 3.5 mm; P < 0.05) and pennation angle (10.9 ± 3.5 to 16.5 ± 4.8°; P = 0.003) were not associated with the increase in intramuscular EMG amplitude ( P > 0.58). The increase in brachioradialis thickness (22.8 ± 4.8 to 25.5 ± 3.4 mm; P = 0.0075) was associated with the increase in the amplitude for one of two intramuscular EMG signals ( P = 0.007, r = 0.79). The time to failure was more strongly associated with the rate of increase in the amplitude of the surface EMG than that for the intramuscular EMG, which suggests that the surface measurement provides a more appropriate measure of the change in muscle activation during a fatiguing contraction.


2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Farina ◽  
Mauro Fosci ◽  
Roberto Merletti

During isometric contractions of increasing strength, motor units (MUs) are recruited by the central nervous system in an orderly manner starting with the smallest, with muscle fibers that usually show the lowest conduction velocity (CV). Theory predicts that the higher the velocity of propagation of the action potential, the higher the power at high frequencies of the detected surface signal. These considerations suggest that the power spectral density of the surface detected electromyogram (EMG) signal may give indications about the MU recruitment process. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential and limitations of spectral analysis of the surface EMG signal as a technique for the investigation of muscle force control. The study is based on a simulation approach and on an experimental investigation of the properties of surface EMG signals detected from the biceps brachii during isometric linearly increasing torque contractions. Both simulation and experimental data indicate that volume conductor properties play an important role as confounding factors that may mask any relation between EMG spectral variables and estimated CV as a size principle parameter during ramp contractions. The correlation between spectral variables and CV is thus significantly lower when the MU pool is not stable than during constant-torque isometric contractions. Our results do not support the establishment of a general relationship between spectral EMG variables and torque or recruitment strategy.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 1163-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald A Neumann

Abstract Background and Purpose. Certain methods of carrying handheld loads or using a cane can reduce the demands placed on the hip abductor (HA) muscles and the loads on the underlying prosthetic hip. In certain conditions, unusually large forces from the HA muscles may contribute to premature loosening of a prosthetic hip. The purpose of this study was to examine HA use by measuring the amplitude of the electromyographic (EMG) signal from the HA muscles as subjects carried a load and simultaneously used a cane. Subjects. Twenty-four active subjects (mean age=63.3 years, SD=10.7, range=40–86) with a unilateral prosthetic hip were tested. Methods. The HA muscle surface EMG activity was analyzed as subjects carried loads weighing 5%, 10%, or 15% of body weight held by either their contralateral or ipsilateral arm relative to their prosthetic hip. They simultaneously used a cane with their free hand. Results. The contralateral cane and ipsilateral load conditions produced HA muscle EMG activity that was approximately 40% less than the EMG activity produced while walking without carrying a load or using a cane. Conclusion and Discussion. People who are in danger of premature loosening of their prosthetic hip should, if possible, avoid carrying loads. If a load must be carried, however, then the contralateral cane and ipsilateral load condition appears to minimize the loads placed on the prosthetic hip due to HA muscle activity.


Author(s):  
Kirsty J. Bennie ◽  
Vincent M. Ciriello ◽  
Peter W. Johnson ◽  
Jack Tigh Dennerlein

Our objective was to quantify changes in muscle EMG activity due to repetitive work. Using a repeated measures design, 13 females participated in 3 conditions, each lasting two eight-hour days: a control inactive condition, and two repetitive work conditions with ulnar deviation tasks at 20 and 25 repetitions per minute. EMG of the extensor carpi ulnaris muscle (ECU) was recorded during voluntary isometric contractions (20% and 60% MVC) eight times throughout the work and control days. The amplitude of the EMG signal was lower on workdays compared to the control days. Initial median frequency of the EMG signal showed no change between the control and workdays; however, the decline of the median frequency with respect to time over the course of each isometric contraction was steeper during workdays compared to control days. These changes suggest that the muscles are in an early stage of fatigue when working for an eight-hour workday.


1988 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 807-813
Author(s):  
Jose Alvin P. Mojica ◽  
Ryuichi Nakamura ◽  
Yoshiaki Yamada ◽  
Ichiro Tsuji

Under simple- and choice-RT conditions, the biceps brachii muscle was examined in 8 healthy male subjects to determine how the temporal and spatial characteristics of elbow flexion and forearm supination differed at the initial phase of EMG activity and whether preparation or the presence of response uncertainty influenced the EMG outputs of the two movements. In the simple-RT condition, RT of supination was significantly faster than that of flexion but EMG activity of supination was less than that of flexion. In contrast, in the choice-RT condition, RT of flexion was significantly faster than that of supination but EMG activity of flexion was significantly reduced compared to supination. These findings indicate that advanced preparation or motor set facilitates the differentiation of RTs and EMG activities of the response movements and that response uncertainty causes a significant change in the temporal and spatial specificity of both elbow flexion and forearm supination.


2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 1420-1429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilles Hoffmann ◽  
Derek G. Kamper ◽  
Jennifer H. Kahn ◽  
William Z. Rymer ◽  
Brian D. Schmit

Neural coupling of proximal and distal upper limb segments may have functional implications in the recovery of hemiparesis after stroke. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether the stretch reflex response magnitude of spastic finger flexor muscles poststroke is influenced by sensory input from the shoulder and the elbow and whether reflex coupling of muscles throughout the upper limb is altered in spastic stroke survivors. Through imposed extension of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, stretch of the relaxed finger flexors of the four fingers was imposed in 10 relaxed stroke subjects under different conditions of proximal sensory input, namely static arm posture (3 different shoulder/elbow postures) and electrical stimulation (surface stimulation of biceps brachii or triceps brachii, or none). Fast (300°/s) imposed stretch elicited stretch reflex flexion torque at the MCP joints and reflex electromyographic (EMG) activity in flexor digitorum superficialis. Both measures were greatest in an arm posture of 90° of elbow flexion and neutral shoulder position. Biceps stimulation resulted in greater MCP stretch reflex flexion torque. Fast imposed stretch also elicited reflex EMG activity in nonstretched heteronymous upper limb muscles, both proximal and distal. These results suggest that in the spastic hemiparetic upper limb poststroke, sensorimotor coupling of proximal and distal upper limb segments is involved in both the increased stretch reflex response of the finger flexors and an increased reflex coupling of heteronymous muscles. Both phenomena may be mediated through changes poststroke in the spinal reflex circuits and/or in the descending influence of supraspinal pathways.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shota Date ◽  
Hiroshi Kurumadani ◽  
Yuko Nakashima ◽  
Yosuke Ishii ◽  
Akio Ueda ◽  
...  

Muscle activities of the elbow flexors, especially the brachialis muscle (BR), have been measured with intramuscular electromyography (EMG) using the fine-wire electrodes. It remains unclear whether BR activity can be assessed using surface EMG. The purpose of this study was to compare the EMG patterns of the BR activity recorded during elbow flexion using surface and fine-wire electrodes and to determine whether surface EMG can accurately measure the BR activity. Six healthy men were asked to perform two tasks—a maximum isometric voluntary contractions (MVICs) task and an isotonic elbow-flexion task without lifting any weight. The surface and intramuscular EMG were simultaneously recorded from the BR and the long and short heads of the biceps brachii muscle (BBLH and BBSH, respectively). The locations of the muscles were identified and marked under ultrasonographic guidance. The peak cross-correlation coefficients between the EMG signals during the MVICs task were calculated. For the isotonic elbow-flexion task, the EMG patterns for activities of each muscle were compared between the surface and the fine-wire electrodes. All cross-correlation coefficients between the surface EMG signals from the muscles were lower than 0.3. Furthermore, the EMG patterns of the BR activity were not significantly different between the surface and the fine-wire electrodes. The BR has different EMG pattern from the BBLH and the BBSH. The BR activity, conventionally measured with intramuscular EMG, can be accurately accessed with surface EMG during elbow flexion performed without lifting any weight, independent from the BBLH and BBSH activities.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document