Electromyography

(EMG)
SUBMITTED BY:
Instrumentation

ARSHDEEP SINGLA (12104053)

KARAN GOYAL (12104063)
VIRESH VERMA (12104085)

Research Applications of
Surface EMG
Indicator for muscle activation/deactivation
Relationship of force/EMG signal
Use of EMG signal as a fatigue index

Types of EMG
Electrode Categories

Inserted
Fine-wire (Intra-muscular)
Needle

Surface

Fine-wire Electrodes
Advantages

Extremely sensitive
Record single muscle activity
Access to deep musculature
Little cross-talk concern

Disadvantages

Extremely sensitive
Requires medical personnel, certification
Repositioning nearly impossible
Detection area may not be representative of entire
muscle

Surface Electrodes
Advantages

Quick, easy to apply

No medical supervision, required certification
Minimal discomfort

Disadvantages

Generally used only for superficial muscles

Cross-talk concerns
No standard electrode placement
May affect movement patterns of subject
Limitations with recording dynamic muscle activity

Electrode Comparison Studies

Giroux & Lamontagne - Electromyogr. Clin.
Neurophysiol., 1990

Purpose: to compare EMG surface electrodes

and intramuscular wire electrodes for
isometric and dynamic contractions
Results
No significant difference in either isometric or
dynamic conditions

However: dynamic activity was not very

dynamic

EMG Manufacturers
Noraxon
Motion Lab Systems
Delsys

General Concerns
Signal-to-noise ratio

Ratio of energy of EMG signal divided by

energy of noise signal

Distortion of the signal

EMG signal should be altered as minimally as

possible for accurate representation

Characteristics of EMG Signal

Amplitude range: 0
10 mV (+5 to -5) prior
to amplification
Useable energy:
Range of 0 - 500 Hz
Dominant energy: 50
150 Hz

Characteristics of Electrical
Noise
Inherent noise in electronics equipment
Ambient noise
Motion artifact
Inherent instability of signal

Inherent Noise in Electronics

Equipment
Generated by all electronics equipment
Frequency range: 0 several thousand
Hz
Cannot be eliminated
Reduced by using high quality
components

Ambient Noise
Electromagnetic radiation sources

Radio transmission
Electrical wires
Fluorescent lights

Essentially impossible to avoid

Dominant frequency: 60 Hz
Amplitude: 1 3x EMG signal

Motion Artifact
Two main sources

Electrode/skin interface
Electrode cable

Reducible by proper circuitry and set-up

Frequency range: 0 20 Hz

Inherent Instability of Signal

Amplitude is somewhat random in nature
Frequency range of 0 20 Hz is especially
unstable
Therefore, removal of this range is
recommended

Factors Affecting the EMG

Signal
Carlo De Luca

Causative Factors direct affect on signal

Extrinsic electrode structure and placement
Intrinsic physiological, anatomical, biochemical

Intermediate Factors physical &

physiological phenomena influenced by one
or more causative factors
Deterministic Factors influenced by
intermediate factors

Factors Affecting the EMG

Signal

Maximizing Quality of EMG

Signal
Signal-to-noise ratio

Highest amount of information from EMG signal as

possible
Minimum amount of noise contamination

As minimal distortion of EMG signal as possible

No unnecessary filtering
No distortion of signal peaks
No notch filters recommended
Ex: 60 Hz

Solutions for Signal Interruption

Related to Electrode and Amplifier
Design
Differential amplification

Reduces electromagnetic radiation noise

Dual electrodes

Electrode stability

Time for chemical reaction to stabilize

Important factors: electrode movement, perspiration,
humidity changes

Improved quality of electrodes

Less need for skin abrasion, hair removal

Differential Amplification
Ambient
(electromagnetic)
noise is constant
System subtracts two
signals
Resultant difference
is amplified
Double differential
technique

Electrode Configuration
Length of electrodes

# of included fibers vs. increased noise***

Delsys 1 cm
Noraxon - ?

Distance between electrodes

Increased amplitude vs. misaligning electrodes,

Multiple motor unit action potentials (MUAP)
Muscle fibers of motor units are distributed evenly,
thus large muscle coverage is not necessary
(De Luca).
Delsys 1 cm
Noraxon 2 cm?

Electrode Placement
Away from motor point

MUAP traveling in opposite directions

Simultaneous (+) & (-) APs
Resultant increased frequency components
More jagged signal

Middle of muscle belly is generally accepted

Electrode Placement
Away from tendon

Fewer, thinner muscle fibers

Closer to other muscle origins, insertions
More susceptible to cross-talk

Away from outer edge of muscle

Closer to other musculature

Orientation parallel to muscle fibers

More accurate conduction velocity

Increased probability of detecting same signal

EMG Electrode Placement

Surface Electrode Placement

Reference Electrode Placement

(Ground)
As far away as possible from recording
electrodes
Electrically neutral tissue

Bony prominence

Good electrical contact

Larger size
Good adhesive properties

Off to the Lab!

References
Basmajian JV, De Luca CJ. Muscles Alive: their functions
revealed by electromyography (fifth ed.). Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, Maryland, 1985
Cram JR, Kasman GS. Introduction to surface
electromyography. Aspen Publishers, Inc. Gaithersburg,
Maryland, 1998
De Luca CJ: Surface electromyography: detection and
recording. DelSys, Inc., 2002
De Luca CJ: The use of surface electromyography in
biomechanics. J App Biomech 13: 135-163, 1997
MyoResearch: software for the EMG professional.
Scottsdale, Arizona, Noraxon USA, 1996-1999