After the acute spell of poliomyelitis, patients commonly suffers from sequelae of weakness. Some of these patients experience new weakness after a time period of stable symptoms. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the possible mechanisms for persistent weakness and development of new weakness in prior polio patients. The usefulness of neurophysiologic methods to study prior polio was evaluated. Also two follow up investigations were performed in the attempt to investigate a possible relationship between development of weakness over time and possible failure in neuromuscular function and relation to muscular activity. In another investigation an evaluation of the exceptional finding of a history of paralytic poliomyelitis without neurophysiologic signs of anterior horn cell death was made. The last investigation dealt with reflex pattern in prior polio and it’s relation to weakness and anterior horn cell loss. The weakness in prior polio is mainly due to loss of motor neurons with incomplete compensatory mechanisms of reinnervation. The new weakness is mainly due to exaggerated physiological age dependent loss of whole motor neurons, but also fragmentation of the motor unit is likely when these have reached an upper size. Defective neuromuscular transmission and failure in the central drive contribute to a lesser degree to weakness. Neurophysiologic method of choice for the assessment of motor unit size and the micro-physiology of the motor unit is Macro EMG. Muscular overuse may accelerate motor unit loss over time in prior polio. Extremely large motor units measured with Macro EMG predict new weakness and Macro EMG can be used for prognostication of development of new weakness in prior polio.

Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist die Klassifikation von funktionellen Elektromyographie-Signalen des Nervus facialis, die bei Parotidektomien und sanierenden Ohr-Operationen aufgezeichnet wurden. Hierfür wurde eine detaillierte Analyse der intraoperativ auftretenden Aktionen Stimulation, Koagulation, Einsatz der Fräse und Spülung an Hand von geeigneten Signalparametern (Amplitude, Dauer, Fläche/Symmetrie, Leistung und Frequenz) durchgeführt. Darüber hinaus erfolgte eine Gegenüberstellung der EMG-Daten der zwei durchgeführten operativen Eingriffe und ein Vergleich der zwei untersuchten Erfolgsorgane des Nervus facialis (Mm. orbiculares). Dabei zeigten sich in allen Parametern relevante Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Kategorien. Auf Grund dieser Ergebnisse lässt sich schlussfolgern, dass es möglich ist, ein Klassifikationsschema für die intraoperativen EMG Signale des Nervus facialis zu entwickeln. Dieses ist unabhängig von der Art des durchgeführten Eingriffs und unabhängig vom beobachteten Fazialisast. Als weiterführendes Ziel soll diese Klassifikation der Kontrolle kraftgetriebener Instrumente nach dem Prinzip „Navigated Control“ dienen.

Schlucken ist ein lebensnotwendiger Prozess, dessen Diagnose und Therapie eine enorme Herausforderung bedeutet. Die Erkennung und Beurteilung von Schlucken und Schluckstörungen erfordert den Einsatz von technisch aufwendigen Verfahren, wie Videofluoroskopie (VFSS) und fiberoptisch-endoskopische Schluckuntersuchung (FEES), die eine hohe Belastung für die Patienten darstellen. Beide Verfahren werden als Goldstandard in der Diagnostik von Schluckstörungen eingesetzt. Die Durchführung obliegt in der Regel ärztlichem Personal. Darüber hinaus erfordert die Auswertung des Bildmaterials der Diagnostik eine ausreichend hohe Erfahrung. In der Therapie findet neben den klassischen Therapiemethoden, wie z.B. diätetische Modifikationen und Schluckmanöver, auch zunehmend die funktionelle Elektrostimulation Anwendung. Ziel der vorliegenden Dissertationsschrift ist die Evaluation eines im Verbundprojekt BigDysPro entwickelten Bioimpedanz (BI)- und Elektromyographie (EMG)-Messsystems. Es wurde geprüft, ob sich das BI- und EMG-Messsystem eignet, sowohl in der Diagnostik als auch in der Therapie als eigenständiges Messsystem und im Rahmen einer Schluckneuroprothese eingesetzt zu werden. In verschiedenen Studien wurden gesunde Probanden für die Überprüfung der Reproduzierbarkeit (Intra-und Interrater-Reliabilität), der Unterscheidbarkeit von Schluck- und Kopfbewegungen und der Beeinflussung der Biosignale (BI, EMG) durch verschiedene Faktoren (Geschlecht der Probanden, Leitfähigkeit, Konsistenz und Menge der Nahrung) untersucht. Durch zusätzliche Untersuchungen mit Patienten wurde einerseits der Einfluss der Elektrodenart geprüft. Andererseits wurden parallel zur BI- und EMG-Messung auch endoskopische (FEES) und radiologische Schluckuntersuchungen (VFSS) durchgeführt, um die Korrelation der Biosignale mit der Bewegung anatomischer Strukturen (VFSS) und mit der Schluckqualität (FEES) zu prüfen. Es wurden 31 gesunde Probanden mit 1819 Schlucken und 60 Patienten mit 715 Schlucken untersucht. Die Messkurven zeigten einen typischen, reproduzierbaren Signalverlauf, der mit anatomischen und funktionellen Änderungen während der pharyngalen Schluckphase in der VFSS korrelierte (r > 0,7). Aus dem Bioimpedanzsignal konnten Merkmale extrahiert werden, die mit physiologischen Merkmalen eines Schluckes, wie verzögerter laryngealer Verschluss und Kehlkopfhebung, korrelierten und eine Einschätzung der Schluckqualität in Übereinstimmung mit der FEES ermöglichten. In den Signalverläufen der Biosignale konnten signifikante Unterschiede zwischen Schluck- und Kopfbewegungen und den Nahrungsmengen und -konsistenzen nachgewiesen werden. Im Gegensatz zur Nahrungsmenge und -konsistenz zeigte die Leitfähigkeit der zu schluckenden Nahrung, das Geschlecht der Probanden und die Art der Elektroden keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Messsignale. Mit den Ergebnissen der Evaluation konnte gezeigt werden, dass mit dem BI- und EMG-Messsystem ein neuartiges und nicht-invasives Verfahren zur Verfügung steht, das eine reproduzierbare Darstellung der pharyngalen Schluckphase und ihrer Veränderungen ermöglicht. Daraus ergeben sich vielseitige Einsatzmöglichkeiten in der Diagnostik, z.B. Langzeitmessung zur Schluckfrequenz und Einschätzung der Schluckqualität, und in der Therapie, z.B. der Einsatz in einer Schluckneuroprothese oder als Biofeedback zur Darstellung des Schluckes, von Schluckstörungen. / Swallowing is a vital process. Its diagnosis and therapy represent enourmous medical challenges. The detection and assessment of swallows and swallowing disorders require elaborate techniques such as videofluoroscopy (VFSS) and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), which entail a high burden for the patient. Both methods are currently used as a goldstandard in the diagnosis and therapy of swallowing disorders. The measurements must, in general, be performed and evaluated by experienced medical personnel. In therapy, dietary modifications and swallowing maneuvers are common methods. But also functional electrical stimulation (FES) is increasingly used. The goal of this doctoral thesis was the evaluation of the combined bioimpedance (BI) and electromyography (EMG) measurement system that was developed within the research project BigDysPro. In particular, it should be examined whether the system can be used in the diagnosis and therapy of swallowing disorders as an independent measurement system and in the context of a swallowing neuroprosthesis. Several studies were conducted with healthy subjects to assess the reproducibility of the measurements, the distinction of swallowing from head movements, and the influence of different factors (i.e. the subject's gender as well as amount, consistency, and conductivity of the food) on the bioimpedance and electromyography. In additional experiments with patients, the influence of the electrode type, i.e. surface vs. needle electrodes, was examined. Furthermore, patients were examined with FEES and VFSS in parallel measurements with the new system. Thereby, the correlation of the BI and EMG signals with movements of anatomical structures (VFSS) and with the swallowing quality (FEES) was assessed. In these studies, 31 healthy subjects with 1819 swallows and 60 patients with 715 swallows were examined. The measured signals show a typical, reproducable run of the curve, that correlates with the anatomical and functional alterations observed by videofluoroscopy during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing (r > 0, 7). From the curve of the bioimpedance, features were extracted to assess the quality of swallowing. These features were demonstrated to correlate with physiological phenomena, such as delayed laryngeal closure and larynx elevation. Therefore, they were used to assess the swallow quality in accordance with fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing. Significant differences were found in the measurement signals of swallows and head movements, as well as in the signals from different food amounts and consistencies. In contrast, the conductivity of the food, the gender of the subjects, and the type of electrodes had no significant effect on the curve of the bioimpedance and the electromyography. From the results of the evaluation, it is concluded that the combined bioimpedance and electromyography measurement system represents a novel, non-invasive tool. It enables the reproducible assessment of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. In diagnosis, the system might be used, e.g., in long-time measurements for the assessment of swallowing frequency and quality. In therapy, the method can be implemented in a swallowing neuroprosthesis or might be used in a biofeedback system.

Både biomekaniska och neuromuskulära faktorer hos kvinnliga fotbollsspelare har visat sig påverka risken att drabbas av främre korsbandsskador. Obalanserad muskelaktivering kring knäleden har visat sig påverka ledstabiliteten. Syftet med studien var därför att undersöka sambandet mellan muskelaktiveringen i vastus medialis och vastus lateralis i relation till valgusvinkel hos fotbollsspelande kvinnor vid ett drop-landingtest. Studien gjordes i samarbete med det finska företaget Fibrux OY, som har utvecklat en bärbar sEMG-apparatur. I studien deltog 15 kvinnliga fotbollsspelare som under en drop-landing bar sEMG-elektroder på vastus medialis och vastus lateralis samtidigt som rörelsen filmades framifrån för att möjliggöra 2D analys av valgusvinkel. Resultaten visar en tendens till samband mellan muskelaktiveringsgrad och valgusvinkel (r=0,51) (p>0,05) samt ett svagt samband mellan muskelaktiveringsordning och valgusvinkel (r=0,32) (p>0,05). Det svaga sambandet gör att det inte går att utesluta att det är andra muskler kring knäleden som har större inverkan på ledstabiliteten. Framtida forskning bör utföras på en större population och rikta sig på prospektiv epidemiologisk forskning eftersom det är den enda studiedesignen som avslöjar vilka variabler som kan associeras med risken att drabbas av en knäskada. / Both biomechanical and neuromuscular factors affect the risk of suffering an ACL rupture among female soccer players. Unbalanced muscle activation around the knee has been found to affect the joint stability. The aim of this study was therefor to investigate the muscle activation in vastus medialis and vastus lateralis in relation to dynamic valgus among female soccer players. The study was conducted in cooperation with the Finnish company Fibrux OY, who has developed a portable sEMG testing equipment. The participants consisted of 15 female soccer players who were tested with sEMG electrodes on vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during a drop-landingtest that was filmed to enable 2D analysis of valgus angle. The results show a tendency to correlation between the activation ratio and valgus(r=0,51) (p>0,05), and between activation delay in vastus medialis and valgus (r=0,32) (p>0,05). But both correlations lack significance. The results could be explained by that there might be other muscles around the knee at that affects the joint stability even more than vastus lateralis and medialis do. Future studies should be conducted with larger sample size and focus on prospective epidemiological research because that is the only study design that reveals what variables can be associated with the risk of suffering a knee injury.

The Dissertation is concerned with monitoring of changes regarding muscle involvement in specific areas of human motion system when walking and Nordic walking (NW) with focus on adults and by means of electromyography method. Within the process of field testing there were 9 randomly selected individuals at the age of 50 - 60 tested to elicit differences in the motion system. There was an effort to find certain differences within involvement of specific muscle groups in the area of shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle and lower limbs and retrieval of similarities of coordination attributes concerning locomotion at horizontal presented by paradigm of kinesiological content of reflexive crawling according to Vojta's principle. Kinematic analyses was used to discover a difference in involvement of specific muscles between Nordic (v = 5 kph) and regular walking (v = 4, 75 kph) up to 10˚ of ascent. Muscles where their MVC was diagnosed the difference in individual muscle involvement was monitored expressed in percentage. The values found were consequently related to their referential value of MVC and tested by means of Wilcoxon test for dependent selection. Muscles where MVC value was not diagnosed the intraindividual comparative analyses of activation muscle pair similarity was carried out on the grounds of...

I ABSTRACT Title: Kinesiological analysis of upper limb punch strike in sports karate. Aim of work: The aim of this thesis to describe and characterize the muscle involement in direct punch strike in karate. Then compared with the exercises, which are characteristic to karate - strikes with resistence and push-up exercise. Methods: Work is processed by a comparative analysis of selected movements based on the determination of muscle activation. The surface electromyography method synchronized with video and accelerometer was used in this work. Results: The result is describtion of selcted movements on the basis of muscle activation and function of selected muscles. The prove that the forearm extensors are activated as the last of the selcted muscles was managed. On the basis of karate technique and anatomy we confirmed important role of forearm extensor by direct punch in karate. The difference between onset time muscle activation by strikes and push up was found. Maximum speed of acral part of the upper limb by direct punch was established. Keywords: Electromyography (EMG), karate, direct punch - gyakucuki, accelrometer

Este trabalho apresenta um método de estimativa de torque do joelho baseado em sinais eletromiográficos (EMG) durante terapia de reabilitação robótica. Os EMGs, adquiridos de cinco músculos envolvidos no movimento de flexão e extensão do joelho, são processados para encontrar as ativações musculares. Em seguida, mediante um modelo simples de contração muscular, são calculadas as forças e, usando a geometria da articulação, o torque do joelho. As funções de ativação e contração musculares possuem parâmetros limitados que devem ser calibrados para cada usuário, sendo o ajuste feito mediante a minimização do erro entre o torque estimado e o torque medido na articulação usando a dinâmica inversa. São comparados dois métodos iterativos para funções não-lineares como técnicas de otimização restrita para a calibração dos parâmetros: Gradiente Descendente e Quasi-Newton. O processamento de sinais, calibração de parâmetros e cálculo de torque estimado foram desenvolvidos no software MATLAB®; o cálculo de torque medido foi feito no software OpenSim com sua ferramenta de dinâmica inversa. / This work presents a method for knee torque estimation based on electromyographic signals (EMG) during robotic rehabilitation therapy. EMG, taken from five muscles acting during flexion and extension movements of the knee joint, are processed to get the muscle activations. Then, through a simple model of muscle contraction, the forces are computed and knee torque estimated using the joint geometry. Muscle activation and muscle contraction functions have bounded parameters to be adjusted for each user. This adjustment is made by minimizing the error between the estimated torque and the measured torque in the joint computed via inverse dynamics. Two iterative methods for constrained nonlinear optimization are compared, escending Gradient and Quasi-Newton. Signal processing, parameters calibration and estimated torque calculation are developed in the MATLAB® software. Measured torque calculation is performed on OpenSim software using the dynamic inverse tool.

Le phénomène de vibration offre deux facettes dans le monde sportif. Bien maîtrisé, il peut être bénéfique pour le renforcement musculaire, pour la rééducation mais dans le cas contraire ce phénomène engendre des effets délétères pour le corps humain. Ces effets délétères dépendent de la nature de la vibration mais aussi de son environnement de propagation, structural ou humain. Les vibrations ressenties par l'homme ne peuvent pas, le plus souvent, être découplées de l'analyse de mouvement et de l'analyse de la fatigue musculaire. Ainsi cette thèse s'inscrit autour de trois notions : la vibration, le mouvement et la physiologie. L'objectif est de définir les caractéristiques de performance et de santé à travers l'étude de la réponse vibro dynamique et physiologique du corps humain. / Vibration phenomenon presents two faces in the sports world. Got under control ; it can be useful in body and muscle building and muscle re-education ; otherwise this phenomenon leads deleterious consequences for the human body. These deleterious effects depend on the vibration nature but also of its propagation background : structural or human. Usually, the vibration suffered by the human body cannot be decoupled either the motion analysis or the analysis of muscular fatigue. This topic research is based in three notions : vibration, motionand the physiologie. The aim of this work will be to define the characteristics of performance and health through the study of the dynamical and physiological response of the human body.

L'objet principal de cette thèse est l'étude de l'activité musculaire du membre supérieur par le biais de l'électromyographie de surface (EMG) lors d'une activité dynamique. Une première étude a montré que sept muscles sur neuf peuvent être normalisés à partir de deux tâches maximales dynamiques, tandis que deux autres muscles doivent l'être avec la méthode traditionnelle isométrique. Cette procédure contribue à l'amélioration de la fiabilité de l'étude du membre supérieur tout en réduisant le temps de normalisation. D'autre part, l'étude de la relation entre activité EMG et vitesse de frappe en coup droit a permis de mettre en lumière les modifications d'amplitude EMG et des paramètres temporels d'activation de certains muscles du membre supérieur en réponse à l'augmentation de la vitesse de balle. Par ailleurs, une troisième étude a démontré que la fatigue générée par un exercice intense de tennis entraîne une baisse du niveau d'activation du grand pectoral et des muscles de l'avant-bras lors des frappes, sans toutefois entraîner de changement au niveau du timing d'activation. Cette diminution de l'activité EMG pourrait expliquer la dégradation de la performance relevée lors de cette expérience. Toutefois, des stratégies de protection de l'organisme et/ou de gestion du conflit vitesse-précision sont à envisager et ouvrent la voie à de futures études / The main purpose of this thesis is the study of upper limb muscle activity through surface electromyography (EMG) during a dynamic activity. An initial study showed that seven out of nine muscles can be normalized from two maximum dynamic tasks, while two other muscles require the traditional isometric method. This procedure helps to improve the reliability of the upper limb EMG while reducing the time of standardization. On the other hand, the study of the relationship between EMG and stroke velocity in forehand drive in tennis emphasized the changes in EMG amplitude and activation timing of some muscles in response to the increase of the ball velocity. Otherwise, a third study showed that fatigue generated by intense exercise tennis results in a decrease in activation level of the pectoralis major and the forearm muscles during strokes, without any change in activation timing. This decrease in EMG activity could explain the performance degradation observed during this experiment. However, strategies of organism protection and/or gestion of the speed-accuracy trade-off should be considered and may need future studies

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2018-06-18T19:16:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Aline Marina Alves Fruhauf.pdf: 1453096 bytes, checksum: 48897b7f7729d68294f85c6738b2da54 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-18T19:16:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aline Marina Alves Fruhauf.pdf: 1453096 bytes, checksum: 48897b7f7729d68294f85c6738b2da54 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-17 / Increased cortical activity induced by brain stimulation, associated or not with other rehabilitation techniques, may potentiate the therapeutic effects in patients with neurological deficits. To assess the immediate effects of two related techniques, transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) and functional electrical stimulation (FES), the electrical activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) and static balance of individuals with post stroke hemiparesis. Methods: clinical trial, controlled, randomized, double-blind, 30 individuals hemiparesis due to stroke. Rating: median frequency and RMS TA by electromyography (EMG) and evaluation of static balance (area, speed and frequency of oscillation in open eyes (OE) and closed (CE)) by stabilometry. Interventions: 4 protocols with 48h interval: 1 (tDCS anodic + FES sham), 2 (tDCS sham + FES active), 3 (tDCS anodic + FES active) and 4 (tDCS sham + FES sham). The anode was applied on etcc C3 and / or C4 and cathode on the contralateral supraorbital region and FES on hemiparetic TA for 20 minutes. Results: There was no statistically significant difference (p> 0.05) of the median frequency and RMS for the acquisition of isotonic and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of TA and static balance both OE and CE condition of the protocols by the Friedman test . Conclusion: There was no difference in the electrical activity of the TA muscle and static balance after application of the associated technical or isolated. The application time may not be enough to verify a motor learning, moreover, it is suggested that the tDCS may have a cortical hyperexcitability generated response any competitor inhibiting action; and a second hypothesis is that the stimulation of both the FES or active contraction has generated supposed peripheral fatigue, even with preconization contractions to avoid that this factor. It is believed that the two suggestive lead to additive effects (a technique inhibiting possibly other). / O aumento da atividade cortical, induzido pela estimulação cerebral, associado ou não com outras técnicas de reabilitação, pode potencializar os efeitos terapêuticos em indivíduos com déficits neurológicos. Objetivos: Avaliar os efeitos imediatos de duas técnicas associadas, estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) e estimulação elétrica funcional (FES), na atividade elétrica do músculo tibial anterior (TA) e equilíbrio estático de indivíduos com hemiparesia pós acidente vascular encefálico (AVE). Métodos: Ensaio clínico, controlado, randomizado, duplo cego, em 30 indivíduos hemiparéticos decorrente de AVE. Avaliações: frequência mediana e RMS do TA por eletromiografia (EMG) e avaliação do equilíbrio estático (área, velocidade e frequência de oscilação em olhos abertos (AO) e fechados (OF)) por estabilometria. Intervenções: 4 protocolos com intervalo de 48h: 1 (ETCC anódica + FES placebo), 2 (ETCC placebo + FES ativo), 3 (ETCC anódica + FES ativo) e 4 (ETCC placebo + FES placebo). A ETCC anódica foi aplicada sobre C3 e/ou C4 e catódica sobre região supraorbital contralateral e FES sobre TA hemiparético,durante 20 minutos. Resultados: Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p > 0,05) da frequência mediana e RMS durante as aquisições de isotonia e contração isométrica voluntária máxima (CIVM) do TA e equilíbrio estático tanto na condição OA e OF entre os protocolos pelo teste de Friedman. Conclusão: Não houve diferença na atividade elétrica do músculo TA e equilíbrio estático, após aplicação das técnicas associadas ou isoladas. O tempo de aplicação pode não ter sido insuficiente para se verificar um aprendizado motor, além disso, sugere-se que a ETCC possa ter gerado uma resposta de hiperexcitabilidade cortical inibindo qualquer ação concorrente; e uma segunda hipótese seria que o estímulo tanto da FES ou da contração ativa tenha gerado suposta fadiga periférica, mesmo com preconização das contrações para que se evitasse esse fator. Acredita-se que as duas sugestivas, levaram a efeitos aditivos (uma técnica possivelmente inibindo a outra).