APPLICATION OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHY IN MOVEMENT STUDIES

Abstract

The scope of this paper is to provide sound principles of EMG signal acquisition and processing in order to optimise the quality of signal and therefore lead to a better interpretation of mechanical muscle output during movement studies. Some background information will be provided on the origin of the EMG signal, factors affecting the quality of signal, recording techniques, signal processing, the fidelity and reproducibility of the signal, and few applications in movement studies. EMG has been a subject of laboratory research for decades. Only with recent technological developments in electronics and computers has surface EMG emerged from the laboratory as a subject of intense research in particularly movement studies, rehabilitation and occupational and sports medicine. Most of the applications of surface EMG are based on its use as a measure of activation timing of muscle, a measure of muscle contraction profile, a measure of muscle strength of contraction (physical load or psychological stress) or as a measure of muscle fatigue.