A Robust Multi-Channel EMG System for Lower Back and Abdominal Muscles Training

Abstract EMG is an established method to acquire the action potentials of contracted muscles. Although commercial EMG systems are available and it is one of the most researched biosignals, it has never become widely used in rehabilitation or fitness training monitoring. The reasons are technical challenges of wearable EMG systems regarding electrode placement, motion artefacts and the complex connectivity of multi-channel EMG measurements. We address this problem for the lower back and abdominal musculature, through a novel dry electrodes belt, multi-channel high density EMG circuitry and problem-specific signal processing. The subject can easily strap the dry electrodes belt around himself which provides 16 EMG channels. Interferences from the ECG and motion artefacts are reduced by a stationary wavelet decomposition. Afterwards, an inter-channel filter is applied to increase the robustness of the signals. Subject measurements during different kinds of typical abdominal and lower back training exercises were performed wearing the novel dry electrodes belt. The results show the possibility of robust EMG measurements from the lower back and abdominal muscles by utilizing the gathered redundancy, appropriately. The additional information obtained via the multi-channel EMG circuitry and spatial oversampling can be used to address current problems of EMG applications. It combines the advantages of robustness and the capability of using comfortable dry electrodes. Therefore, the proposed measurement method for acquiring spatial information about the muscle contractions from the lower trunk can be used for rehabilitation or fitness training monitoring.

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Stability Ball Training on Lower Back Strength has Greater Effect in Untrained Female Compared to Male

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/v10078-012-0052-2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 133-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Chandra Sukalinggam ◽

Gabriel Sukalinggam ◽

Fajar Kasim ◽

Ashril Yusof

Keyword(s):

Training Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Lower Back ◽

Adaptive Mechanisms ◽

Stability Ball ◽

Males And Females ◽

Training Exercises ◽

And Control ◽

Abdominal Strength

Stability Ball Training on Lower Back Strength has Greater Effect in Untrained Female Compared to MaleThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of short-term stability ball (SB) training on males and females by comparing the strength changes produced in the core muscles. Forty-two previously untrained subjects, mean age = 23.62 ± 2.89 years were matched by their maximum strength (back strength: male = 190-200 kg, female = 45-50 kg and abdominal strength: male = 110-120 kg, female = 35-40 kg 1RM) and randomly placed in either one of these 3 groups; unstable SB group (n = 14), stable floor group (n = 14) and control group (n = 14) who did no exercise. SB training showed greatest improvement (p < 0.001) in back and abdominal strength (25.79 % and 29.51 % respectively), compared with the gain in floor training (FT) back and abdominal strength (10.28 % and 8.47 % respectively). Untrained female subjects achieved a higher percentage of improvement in strength compared to males in both back and abdominal muscles, and this is most evident in the SB training group. It is apparent that performing core training exercises on unstable surfaces stressed the musculature, possibly activating the neuro-adaptive mechanisms that led to the early phase gains in strength.

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Differences in Activity of the Brain Networks During Voluntary Motor Tasks Engaging the Local and Global Muscular Systems of the Lower Trunk

Motor Control ◽

10.1123/mc.2019-0109 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 624-643 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rafael Gnat ◽

Agata Dziewońska ◽

Maciej Biały ◽

Martyna Wieczorek

Keyword(s):

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Voluntary Contraction ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Low Back ◽

Motor Tasks ◽

Default Mode ◽

Lower Trunk ◽

Central Nervous System Activity ◽

The Brain

Low back pain constitutes a multidimensional problem of largely unknown origin. One of the recent theories explaining its frequent occurrence includes speculative statements on patterns of central nervous system activity associated with the control of so-called local and global muscles of the lower trunk. The objective of the study was to verify whether there is a difference in the activity of the brain during selective, voluntary contraction of the local and global abdominal muscles as assessed by functional MRI. Twenty healthy subjects participated. An experimental design was applied with repeated measurements of the blood-oxygen-level–dependent signal from the brain during voluntary contraction of the local and global abdominal muscles, performed in random order. Prior to registration, a 2-week training period was introduced, aiming to master the experimental motor tasks. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were processed using the FMRIB Software Library (Oxford, UK). Brain areas showing significant activations/deactivations were identified and averaged across all participants, and intercondition differential maps were computed. Areas of significant intercondition differences were linked to the corresponding anatomical structures and ascribed to the default mode functional brain network and to the sensorimotor network. Contraction of the local abdominal muscles elicited more pronounced activity of the brain cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. This suggests that motor control of the abdominal musculature consists of two modes of brain activity and that control of the local muscles may be a more challenging task for the brain. Moreover, contraction of the local muscles elicited more distinct deactivation of the default mode network, which may have implications for diagnostics and therapy of low back pain.

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Adjuvant Ketamine Analgesia for the Management of Cancer Pain

Annals of Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1345/aph.1a256 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 36 (10) ◽

pp. 1614-1619 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Angela L McQueen ◽

Steven A Baroletti

Keyword(s):

Adverse Effects ◽

Testicular Cancer ◽

Opioid Use ◽

Data Synthesis ◽

Medline Search ◽

Additional Information ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Lower Back ◽

Clinical Literature ◽

Patient Reported

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical literature evaluating the utilization of intravenous ketamine for the management of cancer-related pain, to summarize the data that suggest ketamine is an appropriate adjuvant method of providing analgesia and to report a case of successful pain management using ketamine in a patient with recurrent testicular cancer at our institution. DATA SOURCES: Primary literature was identified through a MEDLINE search (1966–March 2002), and additional information was obtained through secondary and tertiary sources. DATA SYNTHESIS: The available data suggest that supplementation of morphine with ketamine improves analgesia in patients with cancer, and also provides insight to the controversy regarding the efficacy and adverse effects of various ketamine doses. At subanesthetic doses, ketamine may be beneficial at reducing opioid requirements and related adverse effects. CASE SUMMARY: A 34-year-old white man with recurrent testicular cancer was admitted with radiating neuropathic pain of the legs and lower back. The patient was suspected to also be experiencing opioid adverse effects; therefore, alternative analgesic options were warranted. Ketamine was successful in reducing patient-reported pain and was also well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine is an adjuvant analgesic for the treatment of cancer-related pain when other agents either fail or are intolerable. Accordingly, there are several factors that may prevent adequate pain control with opioid use; therefore, alternative analgesic options should be considered. Promise exists for ketamine as a contemporary analgesic in the appropriate patient.

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3D point cloud in the evaluation of processes that generate instability of the lumbar spine

Coluna/Columna ◽

10.1590/s1808-1851201514010r123 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 27-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

José Luis González Gallegos ◽

Tania del Socorro Vergara Gómez ◽

Armando García Hernández ◽

Ana Karen Ibarra Martínez ◽

Alejandro García González ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sagittal Balance ◽

Posterior Instrumentation ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Adult Patients ◽

Sagittal Imbalance ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Depth Cameras ◽

Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽

Lower Back ◽

Sensor Platform

OBJECTIVE: To integrate patients with lumbar instability in a multisensor platform in the process of assessment and diagnosis, assigning quantitative parameters for the sagittal balance (SB) and muscle function. METHODS: Experimental study involving adult patients diagnosed with diseases that cause alterations in the SB, that were or were not submitted to surgery with posterior instrumentation and fusion. Each patient underwent anthropometric measurements in body composition scale; a kinesiological analysis using a multisensor platform consisting of depth camera to static/dynamic analysis for the quantitative measurement of SB, and surface electromyography to capture the level of abdominal and lumbar muscles activation and through flexion and extension. RESULTS: Seven adult patients: five females (62.5%)and two men (37.5%) with a mean age 48 years. Images with depth cameras resulted in a SB of from -6.4 to +5.3cm (average -5.7cm). In individuals with positive sagittal balance the percentage of activation (PA) of the abdominal muscles was 58.5% and the lower back lumbar was 75.25%; patients with negative SB integrated the PA of the abdominal muscles of 70.25% and lumbar of 65%; the patient with neutral SB exhibited activation of the abdominal muscles of 87.75% and lumbar muscles of 78.25%. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a trend towards positive SB in patients with overweight and obesity by BMI, as well as increased activation of the abdominal muscles. The multi sensor platform is a useful tool for the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases involving sagittal imbalance.

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Influence of experimental training with external resistance in a form of “kettlebell” on selected components of women’s physical fitness

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity ◽

10.29359/bjhpa.09.1.03 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 28-36

Author(s):

TADEUSZ AMBROŻY ◽

LUCYNA KISZCZAK ◽

JAROSŁAW OMORCZYK ◽

MARIUSZ OZIMEK ◽

TOMASZ PAŁKA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Average Power ◽

Shoulder Girdle ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Upper Limbs ◽

Endurance Strength ◽

Fitness Training ◽

Experimental Training ◽

And Control

An aim of this work was to determine the influence of women’s experimental training using kettlebells on selected components of physical fitness. Two groups of women, experimental (N = 20) and control (N = 20), took part in this study. In order to determine the influence of the training program developed by the present authors, participants were subjected to examinations aimed to assess the level of selected components of physical fitness (speed of hand movements, flexibility, explosive strength of lower limbs muscles, strength endurance of abdominal muscles and hip flexors, strength endurance of upper limbs muscles and the shoulder girdle, agility, the maximum oxygen uptake, the maximum and average power). Women who participated in kettlebells training showed statistically significant changes in all the examined components of physical fitness. In this group the greatest increase (84.25%) occurred in the endurance strength of upper limbs and the shoulder girdle. However, standard fitness training was more beneficial for shaping flexibility. A key element to the benefit of circuit training with kettlebells use (and additional exercises carried out in this training) is a possibility to improve comprehensive physical fitness.

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Optimal electrode placement for noninvasive electrical stimulation of human abdominal muscles

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00865.2006 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 102 (4) ◽

pp. 1612-1617 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Julianne Lim ◽

Robert B. Gorman ◽

Julian P. Saboisky ◽

Simon C. Gandevia ◽

Jane E. Butler

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Esophageal Pressure ◽

Abdominal Muscle ◽

Electrode Placement ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Gastric Pressure ◽

Residual Capacity ◽

Injured Patients ◽

Stimulation Of

Abdominal muscles are the most important expiratory muscles for coughing. Spinal cord-injured patients have respiratory complications because of abdominal muscle weakness and paralysis and impaired ability to cough. We aimed to determine the optimal positioning of stimulating electrodes on the trunk for the noninvasive electrical activation of the abdominal muscles. In six healthy subjects, we compared twitch pressures produced by a single electrical pulse through surface electrodes placed either posterolaterally or anteriorly on the trunk with twitch pressures produced by magnetic stimulation of nerve roots at the T10 level. A gastroesophageal catheter measured gastric pressure (Pga) and esophageal pressure (Pes). Twitches were recorded at increasing stimulus intensities at functional residual capacity (FRC) in the seated posture. The maximal intensity used was also delivered at total lung capacity (TLC). At FRC, twitch pressures were greatest with electrical stimulation posterolaterally and magnetic stimulation at T10 and smallest at the anterior site (Pga, 30 ± 3 and 33 ± 6 cmH2O vs. 12 ± 3 cmH2O; Pes 8 ± 2 and 11 ± 3 cmH2O vs. 5 ± 1 cmH2O; means ± SE). At TLC, twitch pressures were larger. The values for posterolateral electrical stimulation were comparable to those evoked by thoracic magnetic stimulation. The posterolateral stimulation site is the optimal site for generating gastric and esophageal twitch pressures with electrical stimulation.

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One-Year Follow-up Study on Golf Injuries in Australian Amateur Golfers

The American Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/0363546507300188 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 35 (8) ◽

pp. 1354-1360 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Andrew McHardy ◽

Henry Pollard ◽

Kehui Luo

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Acute Onset ◽

Golf Swing ◽

Game Play ◽

Ball Impact ◽

Warm Up ◽

Additional Information ◽

Lower Back ◽

One Year ◽

Practice Habits

Background Considering its popularity, little epidemiologic literature exists on golf injuries. Hypothesis The low back is the most common injury location for golf-related injury. Most golf injuries occur as a result of the golf swing, and occur mostly at impact. The variables age, handicap, practice habits, and warm-up habits are associated with injury. Methods A prospective survey over 1 year was used to study golf injuries among 588 golfers at 8 Australian golf clubs. Information collected included golfers’ injuries sustained during the year, location of injury, onset, mechanism of injury, and whether injury occurred during the golf swing or at another time. Additional information was sought on the type of treatment received after injury. Logistic regression was used to examine the epidemiologic patterns of golf-related injury and any possible risk factors for the injury. Results The overall 1-year incidence rate of golf injury was 15.8 injuries per 100 golfers, which equates to a range of 0.36 to 0.60 injuries/1000 hours/person. Recurrent injuries were most common, while injuries were more likely to occur over time as opposed to an acute onset. The lower back was the most common injury site (18.3%), closely followed by the elbow/forearm (17.2%), foot/ankle (12.9%), and shoulder/upper arm (11.8%). A total of 46.2% of all injuries were reportedly sustained during the golf swing, and injury was most likely to occur at the point of ball impact (23.7%), followed by the follow-through (21.5%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the amount of game play (odds ratio [OR] = 3.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-10.75) and the last time clubs were changed (OR = 0.32, 95% CI 0.12-0.86) were significantly associated with the risk of golf injury (P < .05). Other factors such as age, gender, handicap, practice habits, and warm-up habits were not significantly associated with golf injury. Conclusions Nearly 16% of Australian amateur golfers may expect to sustain a golf-related injury per year. The injuries in golf are most likely sustained in the lower back region as a result of the golf swing. Based on statistical analysis, only game play and a changing of clubs seem to be significantly associated with risk of injury after adjusting for other risk factors (P < .05). Other factors such as age, gender, handicap, practice habits, and warm-up habits were not significant.

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Mixed Reality Maps to help convey disaster information

Advances in Cartography and GIScience of the ICA ◽

10.5194/ica-adv-3-6-2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Kevin Patrick Helzel ◽

Alexander Klaus ◽

Mathias Jahnke

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Information Sources ◽

Mixed Reality ◽

Spatial Information ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Small Scale ◽

Fire Event ◽

Additional Information ◽

Disaster Information ◽

Willingness To Use

Abstract. In safe and industrialized nations most people have only been sporadically in contact with disaster information. But nevertheless, suitable cartographic products are needed to support first aid responders and help teams trying to save as many lives as possible in disaster events. The spatial information on which these teams have to rely on are currently maps without any interactivity and flexibility which was detected by a requirements analysis asking stakeholders working in the field of disaster management. Based on this analysis a tabletop mixed reality application was developed. Within the application two case study scenarios were integrated. Both scenarios together showed the flexibility of the mixed reality approach for representing disaster information in a suitable and feasible way. The first scenario illustrates a large fire event as well as several additional information sources which can assist response and management teams in various directions. The second scenario displays an earthquake event visualizing damaged and destroyed houses and streets. This scenario as well integrates many different information sources and spans from small scale area visualizations to large scale indoor maps for highlighting e.g. injured people in distinct rooms or floors. The resulting application was evaluated by experts. First the application was presented and explained to the experts. Afterwards the experts were asked in a structured interview how they would evaluate the usability and willingness to use such an application in real scenarios. The experts were impressed by the available possibilities in representing and integrating disaster information via the tabletop mixed reality approach yet mentioned that a head mounted device compared to a smartphone would be more beneficial in practice.

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Guidelines for Sport Coaches on Core-Strengthening Techniques for Athletes: Improving Performance and Decreasing the Occurrence of Lower Back Pain

Journal of Coaching Education ◽

10.1123/jce.6.2.135 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 135-147

Author(s):

Micailah Brock ◽

Sheri Huckleberry

Keyword(s):

Back Pain ◽

Lower Back Pain ◽

Musculoskeletal Injury ◽

Trunk Flexion ◽

Lower Back ◽

Training Specificity ◽

Athletic Activities ◽

Muscle Groups ◽

Training Exercises ◽

Sport Coaches

This paper introduces the concept of dynamic isometrics in training athletes to improve core/postural-related movements while potentially decreasing the occurrence of injury manifested as lower back pain (LBP). Moreover, suggested resistance-training exercises are provided to guide the sport coach. Lower back pain is a common musculoskeletal injury that can be caused by imbalances between anterior and posterior muscle groups. Traditional exercises such as sit-ups and crunches are insufficient as preventatives because very few athletic movements are performed with weighted trunk flexion. Alternatively, sport coaches could implement dynamic isometric training, which closely reflects athletic activities, supports the principle of training specificity, improves balance and strength, and might decrease the occurrence of LBP (Hamlyn, Behm, & Young, 2007).

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Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females

Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences ◽

10.3389/fresc.2021.763309 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Yuge Zhang ◽

Xinglong Zhou ◽

Mirjam Pijnappels ◽

Sjoerd M. Bruijn

Keyword(s):

Inertial Sensors ◽

Gait Stability ◽

Gait Performance ◽

Young Females ◽

Trunk Stability ◽

Lower Trunk ◽

Amplitude Maximum ◽

Lower Back ◽

Acceleration Amplitude ◽

Trunk Acceleration

Our aim was to evaluate differences in gait acceleration intensity, variability, and stability of feet and trunk between older females (OF) and young females (YF) using inertial sensors. Twenty OF (mean age 68.4, SD 4.1 years) and 18 YF (mean age 22.3, SD 1.7 years) were asked to walk straight for 100 meters at their preferred speed, while wearing inertial sensors on their heels and lower back. We calculated spatiotemporal measures, foot and trunk acceleration characteristics, their variability, and trunk stability using the local divergence exponent (LDE). Two-way ANOVA (such as the factors foot and age), Student's t-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare statistical differences of measures between groups. Cohen's d effects were calculated for each variable. Foot maximum vertical (VT) acceleration and amplitude, trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, and their variability were significantly smaller in OF than in YF. In contrast, trunk mediolateral (ML) acceleration amplitude, maximum VT acceleration, amplitude, and their variability were significantly larger in OF than in YF. Moreover, OF showed lower stability (i.e., higher LDE values) in ML acceleration, ML, and VT angular velocity of the trunk. Even though we measured healthy OF, these participants showed lower VT foot accelerations with higher VT trunk acceleration, lower trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, less gait stability, and more variability of the trunk, and hence, were more likely to fall. These findings suggest that instrumented gait measurements may help for early detection of changes or impairments in gait performance, even before this can be observed by clinical eye or gait speed.

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