Normalization of surface EMG amplitude from the upper trapezius muscle in ergonomic studies - A review.

Repeatability of surface EMG variables during voluntary isometric contractions of the biceps brachii muscle.

The purpose of this review is to consider some issues in the interpretation of the electromyogram (EMG) and to discuss current areas of controversy regarding use of the EMG. We consider the underlying physiology and origin of the EMG signal and offer an abbreviated discussion of measurement issues and selected factors that affect the characteristics of the EMG signal. We discuss many of the problems affecting interpretation, including normalization, crosstalk, and issues specific to contraction. In the final section, we consider topics of current interest in electromyography, such as muscle fatigue, task specificity, multichannel representations, and muscle fiber conduction velocity. We present, in addition, alternative analysis techniques. This review should interest researchers and clinicians who seek to obtain the valuable information inherent in the EMG while respecting the potential sources of variance and misinterpretation.

Physiology and interpretation of the electromyogram

Electromyographical indication of muscular fatigue in occupational field studies

There is anecdotal evidence that bone strains may increase to the point that bone becomes susceptible to rapid failure when muscles become fatigued. To determine whether neuromuscular response could be a factor in accelerating bone failure, we tested the hypothesis that muscle fatigue causes a significant increase in peak principal and shear strains in bone. Ten adult foxhounds were subjected to rigorous exercise that caused muscular fatigue while myoelectrical activity of the quadriceps and hamstrings and strain on the distal tibia were monitored simultaneously. Ground reaction forces on the dog hindlimbs were measured before and after strain gauges had been applied to the tibia. The data show a significant shift to lower median myoelectrical frequencies in the quadriceps, indicating muscular fatigue, following the 20 min exercise period. In conjunction with this shift, peak principal and shear strains increased on both compressive and tensile cortices of the tibia and shear strain on the tensile cortex increased significantly (P = 0.02). The largest changes were along the anterior and anterolateral surfaces of the tibia, where peak principal strain increased by an average of 26-35% following muscular fatigue. The cross-sectional strain distribution was calculated at the gauge site at peak strain at the beginning of the exercise period and at peak strain after 20 min of exercise. These data show a change in strain distribution when muscle becomes fatigued. Strains on the posterior cortex of the bone showed the greatest change. Correlation analysis demonstrated a significant inverse association between median myoelectrical frequency and bone strain after 20 min of exercise (Spearman r2 = 1.00; P = 0.05). These data show that muscle fatigue may be associated with increased bone strain.

The effects of muscle fatigue on bone strain

The shift in the power spectrum resulting from a 5-7 min fatigue-inducing effort followed by a 1-2 min recovery period of two elbow flexors, the biceps brachii (BB) and the brachio-radialis (BR), was assessed using two variables, the mean frequency Fm and the median or central frequency Fmd. These two variables were calculated in pre- and post-fatigue conditions and following a brief recovery, at four levels, namely 20, 40, 60 and 80 per cent of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). These were taken from a ramped isometric effort that is from 0 to 100 per cent MVC. The EMG activity of the two flexors was recorded with bipolar surface electrodes from a group of ten volunteers. Following muscle fatigue, induced with a maintained 60 per cent MVC isometric contraction, a statistically significant (p less than 0.05) shift towards the lower frequencies was observed for both Fm and Fmd for both muscles. Following a brief recovery, a shift towards the pre-fatigue higher frequencies was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). These two synergists responded to muscle fatigue and recovery similarly, as they both demonstrated parallel shifts in power spectrum. The power spectrum is consequently a reliable measure of muscular fatigue. It is also complementary to the net articular moment results.

G. Smyth

Papers

EMG power spectrum as a measure of muscular fatigue at different levels of contraction.

Slope of the EMG/moment relationship as a measure of muscular fatigue: a validation study.