Journal of Neuroscience Methods 134 (2004) 3743

A method for positioning electrodes during surface EMG

recordings in lower limb muscles
A. Rainoldi a,b, , G. Melchiorri b,c , I. Caruso b,c
a

Electronic Department, Bioengineering Center, Polytechnic of Turin, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi, 24. 10129 Torino, Italy
b Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
c Don Gnocchi FoundationOnlus, Rome, Italy
Received 4 July 2003; received in revised form 24 October 2003; accepted 27 October 2003

Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this work is to provide information about the degree of inter-subject uniformity of location of innervation zone
(IZ) in 13 superficial muscles of the lower limb. The availability of such information will allow researchers to standardize and optimize
their electrode positioning procedure and to obtain accurate and repeatable estimates of surface electromyography (sEMG) signal amplitude,
spectral variables and muscle fiber conduction velocity. Methods: Surface EMG signals from gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, tensor faciae
latae, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, vastus medialis obliquus, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, soleus,
gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles of ten healthy male subjects aged between 25 and 34 years (average = 29.2 years, S.D.= 2.5
years) were recorded to assess individual IZ location and signal quality. Results: Tensor faciae latae, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, vastus
lateralis, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis showed a high level of both signal quality and IZ location uniformity. In contrast, rectus femoris,
gluteus medius and peroneus longus were found to show poor results for both indexes. Gluteus maximus, vastus medialis obliquus and tibialis
anterior were found to show high signal quality but low IZ location uniformity. Finally, soleus muscle was found to show low signal quality
but high IZ location uniformity. Conclusions: This study identifies optimal electrode sites for muscles in the lower extremity by providing
a standard landmarking technique for the localization of the IZ of each muscle so that surface EMG electrodes can be properly positioned
between the IZ and a tendon.
2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Electromyography; Electrode positioning; Lower limb muscles; Innervation zone; EMG variables; Standardization

1. Introduction
Surface electromyography (sEMG), has been used in both
research and clinical applications for non-invasive neuromuscular assessment in several different fields such as sport
science, neurophysiology and rehabilitation. Different variables, related to different aims, can be monitored: muscle
activation intervals are useful to evaluate motor coordination
and treatment efficacy (Benedetti, 2001; Mayer et al., 1997;
Sutherland, 2001); myoelectrical manifestations of fatigue
(De Luca, 1984, 1993b; Merletti et al., 1990) can be used
to assess EMG signal modifications in pathologies such as
back pain (De Luca, 1993a; Hodges and Richardson, 1997;
Mannion et al., 1998; Roy et al., 1997), whiplash (Falla
Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-011-4330476;
fax: +39-011-4330404.
E-mail address: alberto.rainoldi@eln.polito.it (A. Rainoldi).

0165-0270/$ see front matter 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2003.10.014

et al., 2002), neurological diseases (Zwarts et al., 2000) and

in other neuromuscular alteration due to age (Merletti et al.,
2002), exercise (Casale et al., 2003; Gerdle et al., 1991;
Hopf et al., 1974; Sadoyama et al., 1988) and disuse (Berg
et al., 1997; Edgerton and Roy, 1994).
In these situations, variable estimates, statistical results
and conclusions are strongly dependent on different factors;
proper and standardized electrode positioning plays, among
others, a pivotal role. With the use of multichannel electrode arrays, a number of investigations have shown how
EMG variable estimations vary along the muscle length
(i.e. with respect to electrode positioning) (Masuda et al.,
1985b; Merletti et al., 1999, 2001b; Rainoldi et al., 2000;
Roy et al., 1986; Sadoyama et al., 1985). Research cited
above has demonstrated that positioning sEMG electrodes
over the region surrounding the neuromuscular junctions or
over tendon terminations as well as movement of muscle
underneath sEMG electrodes can substantially alter sEMG

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A. Rainoldi et al. / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 134 (2004) 3743

Fig. 1. The figure shows an example of EMG signal recorded with linear electrode array in single differential mode during a strong contraction of a
vastus medialis muscle. The observed signal amplitude minimum over the IZ (A) and the phase reversal (B1 and B2) are the consequence of both the
single differential recording mode and the movement of the depolarized zones toward tendon terminations in opposite direction.

variable estimates. These studies clearly show that accurate

estimation of sEMG signal amplitude, spectral variables
and muscle fiber conduction velocity are subject to electrode location and that failure to adhere to optimal electrode
placement can provide misleading results.
Fig. 1 shows an example of EMG signal recorded with
the linear electrode array technique. The picture highlights
the recorded signal pattern as a consequence of the single
differential acquisition mode. Due to the movement of the

depolarized zones in opposite direction and to the subtraction between each couple of electrodes, the amplitude signal
over the innervation zone (IZ, which is the location where
nerve terminations and muscle fibers are connected) will be
minimum (A) and the distal and proximal signals with respect to the IZ will appear with phase reversal (B1 and B2).
An example of EMG variable estimate variations along
the muscle length is depicted in Fig. 2 for the vastus medialis
muscle. Average rectified value (ARV) and mean frequency

Fig. 2. Variations of EMG variable estimates along the muscle length. In (a) muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV), (b) correlation coefficient (CC), (c)
spectral (MNF) and (d) amplitude (ARV) variables are depicted. Vastus medialis muscle, 70% MVC; channel 1 is proximal and channel 13 is distal
(interelectrode distance equal to 10 mm). Each single differential signal is obtained subtracting the signals picked up by each couple of electrodes, thus
when the electrodes are placed over the IZ, an error in the variable estimates will occur because of the travelling potentials in opposite directions. As
a consequence the best locations for electrode positioning are the areas between IZ and tendon terminations where the EMG variable estimates are not
affected by the alterations described above.

A. Rainoldi et al. / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 134 (2004) 3743

39

(MNF) of the signal spectrum are estimated from each single

differential signal of a linear electrode array, whereas correlation coefficient (CC) and muscle fiber conduction velocity
(CV) are estimated from a pair of double differential (DD)
signals as described in Merletti et al. (1990) and Rainoldi
et al. (2000).
When the electrodes are placed over the IZ, an error in
the variable estimates will occur because of the potentials
travelling in opposite directions. Hence ARV and CC will
be lower, while MNF and CV will be higher than in nearby
location (filled rectangles). The same effect is observed if
the electrodes are placed over the tendon regions (empty
rectangles), due to the action potential extinction. As a consequence the best locations for electrode positioning are the
areas between IZ and tendon terminations where the EMG
variable estimates are less affected by signal generation and
termination effects and by small electrode displacements.
One centimeter electrode displacement in two subsequent
measurements can generate variations of 200% in amplitude
estimates (see Fig. 2, channel 6 versus channel 5) not related
to physiological modifications.
The issue of sEMG electrode positioning relative to IZ
is rarely addressed in published research using sEMG. In
a review of 144 papers on sEMG, Hermens et al. (2000)
identified 352 descriptions of electrode locationmost being generic terms such as muscle belly, motor point or
midpoint of the muscle. To avoid biased results, contradictory findings and to increase the repeatability and comparison of measures among different laboratories it is necessary
to standardize the electrode positioning procedure. Knowledge of IZ location is needed to position electrodes properly.
The aim of this work is to provide information about the degree of IZ location uniformity in 13 superficial muscles of
the lower limb in a sample of 10 healthy subjects.

analysis indicated that no significant power was present

at frequencies above 400 Hz. The samples were digitized
by a 12 bit A/D converter and stored on a personal computer. Double differential signals were computed off-line
for conduction velocity (CV) estimation to check the proper
electrode position with respect to the fiber direction.
Initial positioning and orientation of the electrodes was
preceded by palpation of each muscle during manually resisted contractions, to outline its length and belly, according to information available from anatomical atlas (Kendall
et al., 1993; Netter, 1989). Electrodes were located along the
length of the muscle with the bars of the electrode array perpendicular to the direction of the muscle fibres. This muscle
fiber orientation assessment procedure includes: (a) to place
the electrodes following anatomical information obtained
from atlas, (b) to check the uniformity of subcutaneous tissue
thickness with ultrasound device to determine muscle fiber
direction in the median plane and (c) to gently vary the array
orientation until the signal appears of the same amplitude
distally and proximally with respect to the IZ (for a detailed
description of the procedure and of the theoretical explanation, please refer to the work of Merletti et al. (2001b)).
The following muscles were investigated: gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, tensor faciae latae, biceps femoris,
semitendinosus, vastus medialis obliquus, vastus lateralis,
rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis.
Since no isometric braces were available to hold the limbs
for each muscle, the isometric contractions were obtained
against manual resistance. The assessment of the proper subject positions to obtain the most selective contraction of the
muscle of interest were obtained following the guidelines of
Kendall et al. (1993).
For each of the 13 muscles studied, the following experimental protocol was adopted.

2. Methods

(1) Evaluation of the EMG signals recorded during a mild

and a maximal isometric contraction of five second duration in the selected direction.
(2) Assessment of the IZ location corresponding to the single differential signal trace with minimum amplitude
and/or phase reversal (Merletti et al., 1999). If the IZ
is narrow and centered between two electrodes a signal
trace with minimal amplitude will be evident (Fig. 1, A
and Fig. 3a, A). If the IZ is directly underneath one electrode contact, phase reversal will be apparent in the two
differential traces obtained from the two pairs sharing
that electrode (Fig. 3b, E).
(3) Localization of the electrode pair corresponding to the
IZ on the subjects skin.
(4) Measurement of the position of each muscles IZ with
respect to a reference line based on anatomical landmarks.
(5) Assessment of EMG variable estimates (CV, MNF,
ARV and CC), as evidence of the quality of the signals
recorded (Merletti et al., 2001b).

Ten healthy male subjects with age between 25 and 34

years (average = 29.2 years, S.D. = 2.5 years) participated in this study after giving written informed consent. The
subjects skin was prepared by gentle local abrasion using
abrasive paste and cleaned with water prior to attachment of
the surface electrodes, in accordance with the SENIAM recommendations for skin preparation (Hermens et al., 2000).
Myoelectric signals were detected from each muscle using a linear array of 8 or 16 electrodes (silver bars 10 mm
apart, 5 mm long, 1 mm diameter) in single differential
configuration (Merletti et al., 1999). The electrodes incorporated a front-end amplifier (unity gain voltage follower)
with high input impedance (>100 M) and a low output
impedance (<100 ). Myoelectric signals were passed
through a 10450 Hz bandwidth filter (40 dB per decade
roll-off on each side), amplified (gain = 2000), and sampled at 2048 Hz (ASE16-16 channel amplifier, LISiN Centro di Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Torino, Italy). Spectral

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A. Rainoldi et al. / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 134 (2004) 3743

(Merletti et al., 1990), the delay d was obtained by identifying the time shift required to minimise the mean square
error between the Fourier transforms of the two DD signals.
The correlation coefficient between two double differential signals used for CV estimation is adopted as indicator
of signal similarity, suggesting monodirectional propagation
of the MUAPs considered not trustable if the delay d is obtained from signals not similar enough (CC lower than 0.6).
The IZ position uniformity between different subjects was
estimated for each muscle on the basis of the spread of the
ten absolute locations. The semi-range (SR, mm) of these
values, defined as (max. value min. value)/2, was selected
as uniformity estimator. With this definition it is possible
to eliminate the biasing effect that the arbitrary selected
landmarks (i.e. different reference line lengths) introduce in
other estimators (such as coefficient of variation) that require
normalization with respect to the reference line length.
We defined excellent uniformity for SR10 mm, good
for 10<SR20 mm, fair for 20<SR25 mm and poor for
SR>25 mm.

Fig. 3. An example of sEMG signal traces recorded with a linear electrode array (interelectrode distance equal to 10 mm, 0.2 mV/div Y axis,
12.5 ms/div X axis) from two muscles with different signal quality. (a)
A sample of signal recorded from the biceps femoris muscle (excellent
signal quality) is depicted. It is possible to recognize: the IZ (A) located
under channel 8 corresponding to the signal trace with minimum amplitude between two channels (7 and 9) with phase reversal; the tendon
termination (B) that can be recognized as the signal trace where the action potentials are extinguished (channels 321). The action potentials
in channel 7, in fact, propagate toward the tendon and were detected by
channel 6, 5, 4 and so on until they stop (and their amplitude decreases)
under channel 1. Two different single motor unit potentials are highlighted
and indicated with C and D. (b) A sample of signal recorded from the
gluteus medius (fair signal quality) is depicted. As defined in the text, it
is possible to still recognize the IZ (E) between channels 6 and 7, but the
action potentials (highlighted in F) appears to reach tendon terminations
with a non physiological CV (higher than 6 m/s).

Spectral and amplitude variables as well as CV were

computed with numerical algorithms (Merletti et al., 1990)
using signal epochs of 0.5 s thereby generating 10 estimates
of each variable during each 5 s contraction. Conduction
velocity was computed as e/d where e is the inter-electrode
distance (10 mm) and d is the delay time between the
two double differential signals. As previously published

Fig. 4. Anatomical information about proper electrode positioning and

examples of signals recorded are shown for the vastus lateralis and vastus
medialis obliquus muscles. (A) The innervation zone was found at a
distance of 94.0 13.2 mm (mean S.D., N = 10 subjects) along the line
from the superior lateral side of the patella to the anterior superior iliac
spine, starting from the patella. Excellent EMG signal quality. A linear
array of 16 channels with 10 mm of interelectrode distance was used. The
top channel is proximal. Scales: 0.5 mV/div Y axis, 6.25 ms/div X axis.
The IZ is located under channel 8. (B) the innervation zone was found
at a distance of 51.7 13.0 mm (mean S.D., N = 10 subjects) from
the superior medial side of the patella along a line inclined of 50 with
respect to the anterior superior iliac spine. Excellent EMG signal quality.
A linear array of 16 channels with 10 mm of interelectrode distance was
used. The top channel is proximal. 1 mV/div Y axis, 6.25 ms/div X axis.
The IZ is located under the channel 7.

A. Rainoldi et al. / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 134 (2004) 3743

3. Results
Fig. 4 shows the results for vastus lateralis and medialis
muscles, providing an example of the information obtained.
For each muscle quality of signals was assessed and the
position of the IZ was determined as an absolute distance
(mm) with respect to anatomical landmarks (in the case of
tensor faciae latae, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis obliquus)
or as a percentage of a distance along a fixed line (in all
other muscles). Signals recorded from each muscle were
classified with respect to four different quality levels defined
as follows.
Excellent: The direction of the muscle fiber may be palpated and the array may be placed correctly and fastly;
it is possible to identify the IZ, recognize the action potential propagation through out the fiber length, estimate
muscle CV within the physiological range (36 m/s) with
high CC (>80%).
Good: It is possible to identify the IZ, recognize the action potential propagation through out the fiber length,
estimate muscle CV within the physiological range
with high CC (>80%), however the correct positioning of the electrode array over the muscle requires a
time consuming procedure (e.g. it is difficult to identify
muscle fiber direction; it is difficult to isolate the muscle of interest when it is small and/or surrounded by
others).
Fair: It is possible to identify the IZ but not to recognize the action potential propagation throughout the fiber

41

length, CV estimates are equal or greater to 6 m/s with

high CC (>80%) and it is possible to place the electrode
array over the muscle with an easy and fast procedure.
Poor: It is possible to identify the IZ but not to recognize the action potential propagation throughout the fiber
length, CV estimates are equal to or greater than 6 m/s
with CC values lower that 60% and positioning of the
electrode array over the muscle is difficult and requires a
time consuming procedure.
In Table 1, reference lines, anatomical landmarks, and
statistical results (mean S.D.) about IZ locations between
subjects, are reported for the studied muscles.
In Table 2, absolute values of SR for each muscle are
reported. IZ uniformity and signal quality are classified as
described above in the text. IZ location uniformity between
subjects was found to be good in 6 muscles out of 13. Signal
quality was found to be excellent or good in 9 muscles out
of 13.
The values provided in Table 1 should be considered in
relation to the muscle length and not only in relation to
anatomical landmarks that may be far from the muscle. The
last column of Table 2 provides a merging of the two classifications above and takes into consideration the muscle length.
As a consequence, 8 muscles out of 13 (biceps femoris,
semitendinosus, vastus lateralis, tensor faciae latae, gastrocnemius lateralis, gluteus maximus, vastus medialis obliquus
and tibialis anterior) were found to be the best muscles for
EMG recordings since they showed excellent or good global
classification.

Table 1
Reference lines, anatomical landmarks, and statistical results about IZ locations between subjects, are reported for the studied muscles in 10 subjects
Muscle

Anatomical landmarks and reference line

IZ position along
the reference line

Biceps femoris

The percentage distance from the ischial tuberosity to the lateral side of the popliteus
cavity, starting from the ischial tuberosity
The percentage distance from the ischial tuberosity to the to the medial side of the
popliteus cavity, starting from the ischial tuberosity
The distance (mm) along a line from the superior lateral side of the patella to the anterior
superior iliac spine, starting from the patella
The distance (mm) from the anterior superior iliac spine, along a line oriented of 30 with
respect to the line joining the anterior superior iliac spine and the greater trochanter
The percentage distance from the medial side of the popliteus cavity to the medial side of
the Achilles tendon insertion, starting from the Achilles tendon
The percentage distance from the lateral side of the popliteus cavity to the lateral side of
the Achilles tendon insertion, starting from the Achilles tendon
The percentage distance from the second sacral vertebra to the greater trochanter, starting
from the second sacral vertebra
The distance (mm) from the superior medial side of the patella along a line medially
oriented at an angle of 50 with respect to the anterior superior iliac spine
The percentage distance from the tuberosity of tibia to the inter-malleoli line, starting from
the tuberosity of tibia
The percentage distance from the tuberosity of tibia to the medial side of the Achilles
tendon insertion, starting from the Achilles tendon
The percentage distance from the iliac crest to the greater trochanter, starting from the
greater trochanter
The percentage distance from the head of fibula to the lateral malleolus, starting from the
head of fibula

35.3 6.8 (%)

Semitendinosus
Vastus lateralis
Tensor faciae latae
Gastrocnemius medialis
Gastrocnemius lateralis
Gluteus maximus
Vastus medialis obliquus
Tibialis anterior
Soleus
Gluteus medius
Peroneus longus

36.3 4.0 (%)

94.0 13.2 (mm)
75.6 14.7 (mm)
50.3 5.7 (%)
61.2 5.1 (%)
33.8 11.0 (%)
51.7 13.0 (mm)
15.5 4.2 (%)
76.3 3.7 (%)
33.4 12.8 (%)
17 4 (%)

Information about rectus femoris muscle are not in the list since it was shown not to reach the minimum criteria of acceptability described in the text.

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A. Rainoldi et al. / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 134 (2004) 3743

Table 2
Absolute values of IZ location semi-range (maximal value minimum value)/2 for each muscle are reported
Muscle

(Max min)/2 (mm)

IZ uniformity

Signal quality

Global muscle classification

Biceps femoris
Semitendinosus
Vastus lateralis
Tensor faciae latae
Gastrocnemius medialis
Gastrocnemius lateralis
Gluteus maximus
Vastus medialis obliquus
Tibialis anterior
Soleus
Gluteus medius
Peroneus longus

25
15
20
20
25
25
25
20
20
25
30
20

Fair
Good
Good
Good
Fair
Fair
Fair
Good
Good
Fair
Fair
Good

Excellent
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Good
Good
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Fair
Fair
Poor

Good
Excellent
Excellent
Good
Fair
Good
Good
Good
Good
Poor
Poor
Fair

IZ uniformity and signal quality are classified as described in the text. The last column reports a final muscle classification qualitatively based on the IZ
uniformity and signal quality ranks weighted by the muscle length (see the text for further explanations).

Gastrocnemius medialis and peroneus longus muscles

were classified as fair, while soleus and gluteus medius muscles were classified as poor. Hence, on these four muscles,
the IZ location is located differently in different subjects
and it is necessary to determine it for each subject before
placing the electrodes. Rectus femoris muscle was shown
not to reach the minimum criteria of acceptability described
in the text and it was not included in the both Tables 1 and 2.
Location of the IZ must be performed using an electrode
array and a multichannel amplifier. Using an electrical stimulator to identify motor point as surrogates of the IZ is not
an appropriate procedure.

4. Discussion
In this work the IZs of 13 muscles of the lower limb
were studied, demonstrating that their location is not the
same among healthy male subjects. The findings show that
in 8 muscles out of 13 studied it is possible to provide
suggestions based on bony landmarks for a standard EMG
electrode placement between the IZ and distal/proximal
muscle tendons (as described in Fig. 2). For the other five
muscles, it is necessary to determine the IZ location for
each subject before placing the electrodes. In particular the
location of the IZ was not easily recognized for the rectus femoris muscle across all subjects; hence no statistics
are available, confirming the difficulty to properly estimate
EMG variables from such a muscle.
In case of dynamic contractions, the muscle shifts with
respect to the skin and the recording electrodes. As a consequence the IZ can move by a 12 cm depending on muscle
type and joint angle variation (Farina et al., 2001). This issue
has been studied in several works (Masuda et al., 1985a,b;
Zuniga et al., 1970) that have shown how such geometrical
artifact determines alterations of the EMG amplitude variables not related to real modification of the muscle activity.
Also in the case of gait analysis, although joint angle variations are particularly small, such a bias further affects am-

plitude and timing estimations (Merletti et al., 2001a). It is

possible to avoid this alteration in EMG signal interpretation by placing the electrode in the position less affected by
these geometrical artifacts, as described by Rainoldi et al.
(2000) and Farina et al. (2001).
The results have shown that while optimum electrode
placement requires finding the IZ for each subject, for some
muscles, electrodes can be placed, according to landmarks,
between the IZ and the tendon termination without first finding IZ.
For these reasons the length of the muscle (i.e. the space
available for proper electrode location) becomes a pivotal
issue. We decided to classify the muscles merging the information about IZ uniformity and signal quality weighted by
muscle length. As shown in Table 2, for instance, the fair
IZ uniformity for the biceps femoris is less critical than the
same classification of the gluteus medius since the former
is longer and more space will be between the IZ and tendon
terminations.
Findings from this investigation provide information allowing the final users (mainly those who use commercial
adhesive electrode in bipolar configuration) to properly
place the electrodes on the subjects skin in order to avoid
biased sEMG variable estimates and contradictory results.

Acknowledgements
Authors wish to thank Professor Roberto Merletti (Polytechnic of Turin, Italy), for the many useful discussions and
his criticism in preparing the final version of this work, and
Dr. Deborah Falla (University of Queensland, Brisbane,
Australia) for the first revision of the manuscript. We wish
to thank also Don Gnocchi FoundationOnlus, Roma,
Italy, for providing facilities and equipment. This study was
supported by Tor Vergata University, Roma, Italy, by the Regional Health Administration Project Ricerca Finalizzata,
Torino, Italy and by CRT Foundation and Compagnia di S.
Paolo di Torino, Italy.

A. Rainoldi et al. / Journal of Neuroscience Methods 134 (2004) 3743

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