Analysis of intramuscular

electromyogram signals

It's a quiz!

Roberto Merletti Dario Farina

Basmajian 1968
What is the term given to describe all of the
muscle fibers belonging to one motor unit?

1. Task group

2. Muscle unit

3. Fiber unit

4. Contractile apparatus
What is the term given to describe all of the
muscle fibers belonging to one motor unit?

1. Task group

2. Muscle unit

3. Fiber unit

4. Contractile apparatus
Motor Unit Motor Unit Motor Unit
1 2 3

Stålberg et al. 1995

Volume conductor
 Which needle electrode configuration is likely to
produce the lower two traces?

1.
Signal amplitude

2.
Detection volume
3.

4.

Distance from AP
 Which needle electrode configuration is likely to
produce the lower two traces?

1.
Signal amplitude

2.
Detection volume
3.

4.

Distance from AP
All of the following are limitations of
intramuscular recordings except:

1. Reflects the activity of only a small number of

active motor units
2. The detected APs are not representative of
all fibers belonging to the motor unit
3. Permits recording from deep muscles
4. It is difficult to have the same unit in repeated
insertions
All of the following are limitations of
intramuscular recordings except:

1. Reflects the activity of only a small number of

active motor units
2. The detected APs are not representative of
all fibers belonging to the motor unit
3. Permits recording from deep muscles
4. It is difficult to have the same unit in repeated
insertions
 27G needle = 0.41 mm

Muscle fiber = 50 μm

8.2 X
 What is one limitation of wire electrodes
compared with needle electrodes?

1. Cause less subject discomfort/pain

during contraction
2. Ability to be repositioned (in & out of
muscle)
3. More stability over long periods of time
4. More stability during movement
 What is one limitation of wire electrodes
compared with needle electrodes?

1. Less subject discomfort/pain during

contraction
2. Ability to be repositioned (in & out of
muscle)
3. More stability over long periods of time
4. More stability during movement
 Site 1
Wire 1

Wire 2
Site 2a Site 2b

Signal = Wire 1 - Wire 2

Gydikov et al. 1986
Which of the following would NOT improve the
signal of the branched bipolar electrode?

1. Reducing the amount of insulation removed and

distance between removal sites
2. Placing the electrode parallel to the muscle
fibers
3. Closer positioning of the electrode to the
muscle fascia
4. Repositioning of the electrode along the muscle
belly
Which of the following would NOT improve the
signal of the branched bipolar electrode?

1. Reducing the amount of insulation removed and

distance between removal sites
2. Placing the electrode parallel to the muscle
fibers
3. Closer positioning of the electrode to the
muscle fascia
4. Repositioning of the electrode along the muscle
belly
Surface 1) Triggering single
fiber electrode

2) Exposed macro
electrode
Stålberg et al. 1980
A macro EMG electrode can be used to
address all but which of the following:

1. Is the size of motor units of older adults

consistent with young adults?
2. Does a particular pathology involve the
reinnervation of affected muscle fibers?
3. Are estimates of the number of motor units
consistent across age and disease?
4. Does muscle fiber conduction velocity change
during eccentric contractions?
A macro EMG electrode can be used to
address all but which of the following:

1. Is the size of motor units of older adults

consistent with young adults?
2. Does a particular pathology involve the
reinnervation of affected muscle fibers?
3. Are estimates of the number of motor units
consistent across age and disease?
4. Does muscle fiber conduction velocity change
during eccentric contractions?
 Example articles:

1. Masakado et al. 1994

2. Ivanyi et al. 1994

3. de Koning et al. 1988

 1) Triggering
Muscle
SFEMG electrode

Investigated
corridor

MU territory
2) Concentric
needle electrode

Stålberg & Antoni 1980

 20
increments

Stålberg & Antoni 1980

What is the length of the MU cross section (mm) and
how does this compare to the actual territory size?

1. 10, this is likely an overestimate

2. 1, this is likely an overestimate
3. 10, this is likely an underestimate
4. 1, this is likely an underestimate
What is the length of the MU cross section (mm) and
how does this compare to the actual territory size?

1. 10, this is likely an overestimate

2. 1, this is likely an overestimate
3. 10, this is likely an underestimate
4. 1, this is likely an underestimate
 What is decomposition?

1. Identification of motor units from an

interference EMG signal
2. Classification of a motor unit type from EMG
3. Quantitative description of a motor unit
action potential
4. Something best left to the EBIO department
 What is decomposition?

1. Identification of motor units from an

interference EMG signal
2. Classification of a motor unit type from EMG
3. Quantitative description of a motor unit
action potential
4. Something best left to the EBIO department
Decomposition
Put the steps of decomposition in
the correct order:

1. Detection or segmentation – how does

information differ from noise signal
2. Identification and classification of an “ideal”
MUAP
3. Verification of Identified MUAP's
4. Recognition or Classification
 Put the steps of decomposition in
the correct order:

2 1. Detection or segmentation – how does

information differ from noise signal
1 2. Identification and classification of an “ideal”
MUAP
4 3. Verification of Identified MUAP's
3 4. Recognition or Classification
 Put the steps of decomposition in
the correct order:

2 1. Detection or segmentation – how does

information differ from noise signal
1 2. Identification and classification of an “ideal”
MUAP
4 3. Verification of Identified MUAP's
3 4. Recognition or Classification

− Generally 1 and 2 are combined in one step

 Identification of MUAP's
 Peak to peak  Fourier transformation coefficients
 Voltage  Coefficients from other transformations
 # of phases, turns  Time sample of filtered signal
 Duration  Wavelet characteristics

Merletti and Farina 2008

 Wavelet vs. Fourier Transform

Meyer Mexican Hat

 What is not a limitation to
Decomposition?

1. No ideal waveform available

2. Must come from intramuscular EMG
3. Inaccurate past ~50% MVC
4. Can only readily identify 3-8 MU's
 What is not a limitation to
Decomposition?

1. No ideal waveform available

2. Must come from intramuscular EMG
3. Inaccurate past ~50% MVC
4. Can only readily identify 3-8 MU's
 How are waves decomposed?

Peel off method Modeling method

http://
www.ling.umd.edu/
~idsardi/sinewave/
 MATLAB based EMGLAB resolved
superimpositions with which method?

1. Modeling approach
2. “Best match” or “peel off” method
 MATLAB based EMGLAB resolved
superimpositions with which method?

1. Modeling approach
2. “Best match” or “peel off” method
 MATLAB based EMGLAB resolved
superimpositions with which method?

1. Modeling approach
2. “Best match” or “peel off” method

Which is more powerful? difficult?

Modelling vs. Peel Off

Stashuk 2001
Which is not a method of verifying a
decomposed signal?

1. Comparison with ideal waveform

characteristics
2. Cross verification from two different
locations
3. Mathematical reference signal
4. Expert Operator verification
Which is not a method of verifying a
decomposed signal?

1. Comparison with ideal waveform

characteristics
2. Cross verification from two different
locations
3. Mathematical reference signal
4. Expert Operator verification
Which is not true with regards to
decomposition in a clinical setting?

1. Done using interference EMG signal

2. Uses same methodology as in research
setting
3. Impractical for clinical use
4. True decomposition is beyond the
realm of clinicians
Which is not true with regards to
decomposition in a clinical setting?

1. Done using interference EMG signal

2. Uses same methodology as in research
setting
3. Impractical for clinical use
4. True decomposition is beyond the
realm of clinicians
 Amplifier
(EMG)
Trigger
Surface electrode unit
array
First dorsal
interosseus
Averager
Muscle fiber
conduction
velocity
Amplifier

Farina et al. 2002

If the time between averaged waveforms is 1.28
ms and the CV is 3.9 m*s-1, how far apart are
the electrodes on the array in mm?

1) 5
2) 0.39
3) 7.5
4) 0.5
If the time between averaged waveforms is 1.28
ms and the CV is 3.9 m*s-1, how far apart are
the electrodes on the array in mm?

1) 5
2) 0.39
3) 7.5
4) 0.5
 Amplifier
(EMG)
Trigger
unit

First dorsal
interosseus
Averager Torque
contribution

Force
transducer
Amplifier
Stålberg & Falck 1997
 Patient 1 Patient 2

Signal A Signal B
Which detection system (intramuscular or surface)
is used to diagnose pathologies and why?

1. Intramuscular, lower frequencies are

preserved
2. Intramuscular, features of individual APs are
preserved
3. Surface, you record from more fibers
4. Surface, the signal bandwidth allows for
analysis of the number of turns in AP shape
Which detection system (intramuscular or surface)
is used to diagnose pathologies and why?

1. Intramuscular, lower frequencies are

preserved
2. Intramuscular, features of individual APs are
preserved
3. Surface, you record from more fibers
4. Surface, the signal bandwidth allows for
analysis of the number of turns in AP shape
 References*
Adrian & Bronk 1929 Haig et al. 2003
Basmajian 1963 Ivanyi et al. 1994
Basmajian & Stecko 1962 Masakado et al. 1994
Buchthal at el. 1957 Stålberg & Antoni 1980
de Koning et al. 1988 Stålberg & Falck 1997
De Luca & Forrest 1972 Stålberg et al. 1980
Farina et al. 2002 Stålberg et al. 1995
Gydikov et al. 1986 Stashuck 2001

*Click on each study to view record on journal website