| 1. |
- Gerdle, Björn, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Criterion validation of surface EMG variables as fatigue indicators using peak torque : a study of repetitive maximum isokinetic knee extensions
- 2000
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 10:4, s. 225-232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A number of studies have been published that have used variables of the electromyogram (EMG) power spectrum during dynamic exercise. Despite these studies there is a shortage of studies of the validity of surface EMG registrations during repetitive dynamic contractions with respect to fatigue. The aim of this study was to investigate if the surface EMG variables mean frequency (MNF [Hz]) and the signal amplitude (RMS [μV]) are valid indicators of muscular fatigue (defined as “any exercise-induced reduction in the capacity to generate force or power output”) during maximum repeated isokinetic knee extensions (i.e. criterion validity using peak torque).Twenty-one healthy volunteers performed 100 isokinetic knee extensions at 90° s-1. EMG signals were recorded from the vastus lateralis, the rectus femoris and the vastus medialis of the right thigh by surface electrodes. MNF and RMS of the EMG together with peak torque (PT [Nm]) were determined for each contraction. MNF showed consequently higher correlation coefficients with PT than RMS did. Positive correlations generally existed between MNF and PT. The majority of the subjects had positive correlations between RMS and PT (i.e. decreases both in PT and in RMS).In conclusion, at the individual level MNF generally — in contrast to RMS — showed good criterion validity with respect to biomechanical fatigue during dynamic maximum contractions.
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| 2. |
- Gerdle, Björn, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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Firing rate and conduction velocity of single motor units in the trapezius muscle in fibromyalgia patients and healthy controls
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - : Elsevier. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 18:5, s. 707-716
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fibromyalgia is a common chronic pain condition in the population (2-4%), which often is associated with prominent negative consequences with respect to participation in daily activities. There are several reports in the literature concerning the effects of acute experimental pain on motor control. However, a more heterogeneous picture exists in the literature with respect to whether chronic pain conditions affect motor control. This study compares firing rate and conduction velocity (CV) of single motor units (MUs) in the trapezius muscle of fibromyalgia patients (FM) and healthy controls (CON). Multi-channel surface electromyography was used to estimate both MU firing rate and CV because this technique allows simultaneous estimation of both these variables and the measurements are easy and non-invasive. In this study, 29 FM and 30 CON subjects participated and performed isometric shoulder elevations using weights up to 4 kg. No significant differences in the firing rate of MUs in the trapezius muscle were found between the FM and CON groups (95% confidence interval was -1.9 and 1.3 pulses per second). There were no significant differences in CV between the groups at 1 and 2 kg load. However, the FM group had significantly higher CV in contractions without external load (p=0.004). We were unable to confirm the pain-adaptation model since no differences in firing rate between the two groups were found. CV was significantly higher in FM than in healthy controls; this might be due to alterations in histopathology and microcirculation.
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| 3. |
- Grip, Helena, et al.
(författare)
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Cervical helical axis characteristics and its center of rotation during active head and upper arm movements-comparisons of whiplash-associated disorders, non-specific neck pain and asymptomatic individuals.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Biomechanics. - : Springer. - 0021-9290 .- 1873-2380. ; 41:13, s. 2799-2805
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The helical axis model can be used to describe translation and rotation of spine segments. The aim of this study was to investigate the cervical helical axis and its center of rotation during fast head movements (side rotation and flexion/extension) and ball catching in patients with non-specific neck pain or pain due to whiplash injury as compared with matched controls. The aim was also to investigate correlations with neck pain intensity. A finite helical axis model with a time-varying window was used. The intersection point of the axis during different movement conditions was calculated. A repeated-measures ANOVA model was used to investigate the cervical helical axis and its rotation center for consecutive levels of 15 degrees during head movement. Irregularities in axis movement were derived using a zero-crossing approach. In addition, head, arm and upper body range of motion and velocity were observed. A general increase of axis irregularity that correlated to pain intensity was observed in the whiplash group. The rotation center was superiorly displaced in the non-specific neck pain group during side rotation, with the same tendency for the whiplash group. During ball catching, an anterior displacement (and a tendency to an inferior displacement) of the center of rotation and slower and more restricted upper body movements implied a changed movement strategy in neck pain patients, possibly as an attempt to stabilize the cervical spine during head movement.
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| 4. |
- Karlsson, J.S, et al.
(författare)
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An estimation of the influence of force decrease on the mean power spectral frequency shift of the EMG during repetitive maximum dynamic knee extensions
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 13:5, s. 461-468
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Frequency analysis of myoelectric (ME) signals, using the mean power spectral frequency (MNF), has been widely used to characterize peripheral muscle fatigue during isometric contractions assuming constant force. However, during repetitive isokinetic contractions performed with maximum effort, output (force or torque) will decrease markedly during the initial 40-60 contractions, followed by a phase with little or no change. MNF shows a similar pattern. In situations where there exist a significant relationship between MNF and output, part of the decrease in MNF may per se be related to the decrease in force during dynamic contractions. This study estimated force effects on the MNF shifts during repetitive dynamic knee extensions. Twenty healthy volunteers participated in the study and both surface ME signals (from the right vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris muscles) and the biomechanical signals (force, position, and velocity) of an isokinetic dynamometer were measured. Two tests were performed: (i) 100 repetitive maximum isokinetic contractions of the right knee extensors, and (ii) five gradually increasing static knee extensions before and after (i). The corresponding ME signal time-frequency representations were calculated using the continuous wavelet transform. Compensation of the MNF variables of the repetitive contractions was performed with respect to the individual MNF-force relation based on an average of five gradually increasing contractions. Whether or not compensation was necessary was based on the shape of the MNF-force relationship. A significant compensation of the MNF was found for the repetitive isokinetic contractions. In conclusion, when investigating maximum dynamic contractions, decreases in MNF can be due to mechanisms similar to those found during sustained static contractions (force-independent component of fatigue) and in some subjects due to a direct effect of the change in force (force-dependent component of fatigue). In order to compare MNF shifts during sustained static and repetitive dynamic contractions it is necessary to estimate the force-dependent component of fatigue of dynamic contractions. Our results are preliminary and have to be confirmed in larger experiments using single dynamic contractions when determining the MNF-force relationship of the unfatigued situation.
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| 5. |
- Karlsson, Stefan, et al.
(författare)
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Mean frequency and signal amplitude of the surface EMG of the quadriceps muscles increase with increasing torque - A study using the continuous wavelet transform
- 2001
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 11:2, s. 131-140
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The continuous wavelet transform (CWT), a time-frequency method, was used when calculating mean frequency of the power spectrum (MNF) and signal amplitude (RMS) of the surface EMG to investigate their relationships to force during a gradually increasing knee extension (ramp). Based upon the CWT, MNF was redefined to include time dependence on the EMG signal frequency contents, the short-time MNF (STMNF). Surface EMG was recorded from vastus lateralis, rectus femoris and vastus medialis in 21 clinically healthy subjects during a brief, gradually increasing contraction up to 100% of a maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), with a duration of approximately 10 s. The relationships between the EMG variables and force using linear regression were determined for each subject. For vastus lateralis, we also investigated if certain aspects of the muscle morphology (i.e., proportions and areas of different fibre types) influenced the EMG-force relationship.For the majority of subjects (17-18 out of 21 subjects) there were significant positive correlations between STMNF and force in the three muscles. No sex differences were found in intercepts or regression coefficients of STMNF. The muscle morphology had a significant influence on the STMNF-force intercept and the regression coefficient. Positive and highly significant linear correlations between RMS and force were found for all subjects and all three muscles.In conclusion, time frequency methods can be applied when investigating EMG during brief contractions associated with non-stationarity. In a great majority of the subjects, and in the three muscles, significant linear force dependencies were found for STMNF. Thus, when evaluating muscle fatigue, e.g., in ergonomic situations, it is important to consider the force level as one factor that can influence the results. Morphological variables (fibre proportions and fibre areas) influenced the STMNF-force relationship in vastus lateralis. Copyright
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| 6. |
- Larsson, Barbro, 1952-, et al.
(författare)
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Reproducibility of surface EMG variables and peak torque during three sets of ten dynamic contractions
- 1999
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 9:5, s. 351-357
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The interpretation of the electromyogram (EMG) of dynamic contractions might be difficult because the movement per se introduces additional factors that could affect its characteristics. There is a lack of studies concerning the reproducibility of surface EMG registrations during dynamic contractions. The aim was to investigate the during-the-day reproducibility (using intra-class correlation; ICC) of the peak torque (PT) and the EMG variables (without removing the electrodes) of dynamic contractions. Ten healthy subjects performed three sets of 10 dynamic maximum right-knee extensions with a one-hour interval in between, using an isokinetic dynamometer and the PT was determined. EMG signals were recorded from the right vastus lateralis, rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles using surface electrodes and the mean frequency of the power spectrum (MNF [Hz]) and the signal amplitude (RMS [μV]), were computed. The ability to relax in-between the maximum extensions was calculated as a ratio of the RMS during the passive flexion phase and the RMS during the active extension phase of each contraction cycle: the signal amplitude ratio (SAR).Both PT (ICC=0.99) and RMS (ICC=0.83–0.98) had good reproducibility. The reproducibility of MNF was good for all muscles when the mean of contraction nos.: 1–10 was used. Vastus lateralis had the highest ICC among the three muscles. The reproducibility of SAR was generally poor (ICC<0.60). The present study showed good reproducibility for common EMG variables (MNF and RMS) obtained during maximum isokinetic contractions.
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| 7. |
- Larsson, Barbro, 1952-, et al.
(författare)
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Surface electromyography and peak torque of repetitive maximum isokinetic plantar flexions in relation to aspects of muscle morphology
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 16:3, s. 281-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates the relationships between surface electromyography (EMG [Mean frequency of the power spectrum (MNF)]) and peak torque variables obtained during 100 maximum concentric plantar flexions with the right limb at 60 degrees s(-1) and different muscle morphological variables. Surface EMG was recorded from the right gastrocnemius lateralis and muscle biopsies were taken from the same site as the EMG electrodes were positioned. Muscle fibre area and fibre type composition were determined on serial muscle cross sections using both histochemistry (myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase) and immunohistochemistry (monoclonal antibodies against specific myosin heavy chain isoforms). Forty-three female and nine male students participated in the study. Gastrocnemius lateralis contained predominantly type I fibres (50%) and type IIA fibres (40%) in both sexes and large individual differences were found. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the intercorrelation analyses, and projection to latent structures (PLS) was used for the multivariate regression analysis. MNF correlated positively with different fibre areas and with the proportion of type I fibres. Fibre areas and sex were the most important factors in the regression of maximum peak torque. High proportion of type I fibres and sex were the most important regressors of peak torque endurance normalised for lean body mass. More studies are needed to understand the complex interrelationships between intrinsic muscle properties and the frequency content of the surface EMG before theoretical models can be formulated that incorporate both fibre areas and fibre type proportions.
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| 8. |
- Larsson, Barbro, 1952-, et al.
(författare)
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Test–retest reliability of EMG and peak torque during repetitive maximum concentric knee extensions
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 13:3, s. 281-287
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of peak torque and surface electromyography (EMG) variable’s root mean square (RMS) and mean frequency (MNF) during an endurance test consisting of repetitive maximum concentric knee extensions. Muscle fatigue has been quantified in several ways, and in isokinetic testing it is based on a set of repetitive contractions. To assess test–retest reliability, two sets of 100 dynamic maximum concentric knee extensions were performed using an isokinetic dynamometer. The two series were separated by 7–8 days. The subjects relaxed during the passive flexion phase. Twenty (10 men and 10 women) clinically healthy subjects volunteered.Peak torque and EMG from rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris were recorded. RMS and MNF were calculated from the EMG signal. The reliability was calculated with intraclass correlation coefficient ICC (1.1) and standard error of measurements (SEM). The reliability of peak torque was good (ICC=0.93) and SEM showed low values. ICC was good for absolute RMS of rectus femoris (ICC≥0.80), vastus medialis (ICC≥0.88) and vastus lateralis (ICC≥0.82) and MNF of rectus femoris (ICC≥0.82) and vastus medialis (ICC≥0.83). Peak torque, and MNF and RMS of rectus femoris and vastus medialis are reliable variables obtained from an isokinetic endurance test of the knee extensors.
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| 9. |
- Östlund, Nils, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Location of innervation zone determined with multichannel surface electromyography using an optical flow technique
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1050-6411 .- 1873-5711. ; 17:5, s. 549-555
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multichannel surface electromyography has developed towards more channels and higher spatial resolution. This allows the study of multichannel electromyograms as images of the potential distribution on the skin. In this paper, a method that estimates the motion of the potential distribution using an optical-flow-based technique is introduced. The optical flow is a vector field that describes how images change with time. The aim of this study was to introduce a new method for innervation zone (IZ) localization and to evaluate its performance. The new method was compared with a method that uses the position of the lowest root-mean-square (RMS) value in an electrode array as an estimate of the IZ localization. Comparisons were made with both simulated signals and with recorded multichannel electromyogram signals. Simulations showed that the methods performed similarly for high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and that the optical-flow-based method was superior for lower SNR. When the experimental signals were used, localization with the optical-flow-based method gave a mean absolute deviation of 2.4 mm from the location given by an expert group. The lowest RMS method gave a significantly higher deviation (13.6 mm). Due to the low computational complexity of the optical flow algorithm it is possible to get the estimations of the IZ localization in real time. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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