The Effect of Sleeve Pattern and Fit on E-Textile Electromyography (EMG) Electrode Performance in Smart Clothing Design

When e-textile EMG electrodes are integrated into clothing, the fit of the clothing on the body, and therefore its pattern and cut become important factors affecting the EMG signal quality in relation to the seamless contact between the skin and the e-textile electrode. The research so far on these effects was conducted on commercially available clothing or in tubular sleeve forms for arms. There is no study that investigated different clothing pattern and fit conditions and their effect on e-textile EMG electrode performance. This study investigates the effect of clothing pattern and fit in EMG applications using e-textile electrodes integrated onto the sleeves of custom drafted t-shirts in set-in and raglan sleeve pattern variations. E-textile electrode resistance, signal-to-noise ratio (SNRdB), power spectral density and electrode–skin impedance are measured and evaluated in set-in sleeve and raglan sleeve conditions with participants during a standardized arm movement protocol in comparison to the conventional hydrogel Ag/AgCl electrodes. The raglan sleeve pattern, widely used in athletic wear to provide extra ease for the movement of the shoulder joint, showed superior performance and therefore indicated the pattern and cut of a garment could have significant effect on EMG signal quality in designing smart clothing.