Title: Discrimination of EMG signals from individual forearm muscles from surface EMG Abstract: Location of electrodes for sensing the forearm muscles using surface electromyography is not accurately described. It is based only on recommendations by various authors in making researches. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal placement of electrodes on the forearm and describe it to another repeatable measurements. By analyzing the amplitude of EMG recording is confirmed not only the optimal location of electrodes, but either suggested muscle synergies that are possible to analyze more deeply in other studies because a detailed examination of muscle synergies are considerable application in upper limb prosthetics Keywords: Surface electromyography, forearm muscles, amplitude analysis

KRATKY, Jakub. Monitoring the activation of selected muscle groups of clients with spinal cord injuries. Prague: Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, 2013. 82 pages. Supervisor Doc. PaedDr. Karel Jelen, CSc The aim of this thesis is to monitor the activation of selected muscle groups (musculus deltoideus pars anterior, musculus deltoideus pars posterior, musculus triceps brachii caput laterale and musculus trapezius pars descendus) during double poling ergometry. Nine subjects with different spinal cord lesions volunteered to participate in the study. The surface electromyography is used to detect the musculus activation. The monitoring of four muscle groups is devided into three phases. Firstly, all the participants double-poled for one minute at moderate intensity according to the Borg scale. Each participant underwent a 10-minute intervention to correct the posture. In the last phase the volunteers exercised again for one minute at moderate intensity. The aim of the intervention is to decrease muscle activation of musculus deltoideus pars anterior and musculus trapezius pars descendus (muscles with a tendency to hypertonia during wheelchair propulsion and activity of daily living) and to increase muscle activation of musculus deltoideus pars posterior and musculus triceps...

Title: Measurement of muscle activity during gait at patients with knock knees Objective: The aim of this study was to compare muscle activation between two groups of volunteers with and without knock-knees during level ground and incline walking on treadmill by surface electromyography. Muscles were measured on both legs, specificly tibialis anterior muscle, gastrocnemius lateralis muscle, vastus medialis muscle, adductor magnus muscle, semimembranosus muscle and tensor fasciae latae muscle. The goal of this experiment was to discover which muscles are more or less aktive according to the other group of participants. Then based on the conclusion could be possible to affect these changes by physiotherapy in future. Methods: The surface electromyography was used for measurement muscle activation. There were 12 volunteers, 9 women and 3 men, participate on this study in age from 21 to 27. Intermalleolar distance was used as a screening investigation for sorting into two groups whether the knock-knees are present or not. Result: There were different muscle activation between both groupes. Some muscles had increased activation others had lowest activation. However, this increase can be considered as statistically significant only in case of averrage amplitude muscle activity during midstance of step by...

Title: Electromyographic analysis of selected muscles of lower extremity of kitesurfers. Objective: The goal of thesis is to determine muscle groups, which are the most active during the kitesurfing position and compare the values in increasing time spent in this position. Furthermore, to determine a degree of co-contraction level between m. quadriceps femoris and m. biceps femoris. According to the enlarging number of riders in kitesurfing population the goal is to compare results between professional and recreant riders and determine statisticaly significant differences. Methods: This thesis is a case study, where is analyzed the degree of muscle aktivity of lower extremity during the kitesurfing position. The research involved 6 persons of very specific selection consisted of professional riders and recreants. As an objectification method surface electromyography had been chosen and the normalized value between m. quadriceps femoris, m. gluteus maximus, m. biceps femoris, m. tibialis anterior, m. gastrocnemius and m. trapezius had been evaluated. Findings: The measurement results showed that the most active muscle during the kitesurfing position is m. quadriceps femoris of stance lower extremity even though after long-term stay. Furthemore, the results showed that professional riders apply more...

Title: Effect of asymmetric load on the stereotype of running. Objectives: The aim of this experimental work is to evaluace the electromyographic activity of selected muscles when running without load and with load on the treadmill, and the co- current assessment of the impact of asymmetric load on the lateral weight distribution. Methods: Six recreational runners underwent the experiment during which we monitored electrical activity of m. deltoideus pars anterior, m. trapezius pars ascendes et descendens, lumbar paraspinal muscles, m. gastrocnemius lateralis and m. tibialis anterior while running without load and with load on the periphery of the upper right extremity. For the experiment a motor treadmill at a constant speed of 10 km/h was used and a 0,5 l PET bottle completely filled with water was applied as the load. Changes of lateral weight distribution were assessed having investigated stance on two scales. The measured values were statistically evaluated. Results: Within the group of all the probands it was proved that there existed an impact on normalized average amplitude of EMG signal at left-oriented m. gastrocnemius lateralis. The hypothesis of the influence of asymmetric load on the lateral weight distribution was not demonstrated. Keywords: endurance running, surface...

Title: Correlation between mental stress, trapezius muscles electrical activity and electrical activity of the brain Objectives: The main goal of this thesis is to find out whether a shortterm mental stress induced by solving tests in maths, Czech language and colour word test in a time pressure increases the electrical activity in musculus trapezius and further more to evaluate the change in distribution of alfa activity in electroencephalographic record before and after undertaking the above mentioned tests. Methods: The experimental sample consisted of six university students (5 women, 1 man) at the age from 22 to 30. The electrical activity of m. trapezius pars descendens was being evaluated billateraly using the telemetric surface electromyography TeleMyo Mini of the Neurodata company, and electrical activity of the brain was being evaluated using the EEG Nicolet. The stress load was induced by solving mental tests (Czech language, mathematics and a colour word test) in a time limit. The shorten version of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire was used to determine the characteristics of the individuals. We focused mainly on determining degree of neuroticism. Results: No influence of mental load on increasing the electric activity of m. trapezius pars descendens was proven. Electroencephalographic...

Title: Lower limb muscle activity during squat and technique seoi nage in judo Objectives: Goals of my work is finding activity lower muscle limb using surface electromyography in shallow squat, deep squat and seoi nage technic in judo. From the obtained results will be compared muscle activity in relative to MVC and compared timing activity of measuring muscles between deep squat and technic seoi nage right. Methods: Research component consisted of 10 subjects, 5 of fitness and 5 are active judokas. With using surface electromyography and kinematic analysis we monitored activity of measured muscles in shallow and deep squat, and seoi nage technic. The size of muscle activity was assessed in relation to MVC. Results: Evaluation of the results showed a higher involvement by m. gluteus maximus in deep squat than shallow squat. Deep squat makes higher muscles activity. Performing of seoi nage technique resulted in higher values by m. quadriceps femoris. Sequence involvement of muscles during deep squat and seoi nage techniques in selected subjects showed we a strong similarity with various techniques. Key words: Lower limb muscle,judo, electromyography, squat, seoi nage

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito da placa oclusal rígida em pacientes com DTM crônica, como tratamento único ou associado à terapia prévia. Foram selecionados pacientes diagnosticados com DTM de acordo com o protocolo para pesquisa Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD) os quais foram distribuídos em 2 grupos experimentais. O primeiro foi tratado apenas com placa oclusal rígida (POR) (GP, n=20), e o segundo (GTP, n=17), recebeu terapia prévia com fonoaudiólogo, em 12 sessões de 45 minutos, e após três meses de finalização deste tratamento, foram submetidos ao tratamento com POR, assim como GP. As avaliações destes pacientes aconteceram em três momentos, antes do tratamento (T1), 3 meses após a instalação e ajuste da placa (T2) e 4 meses após a instalação e ajuste da placa (T3). O grupo GTP foi submetido a uma avaliação a mais (TS) que foi realizada antes da instalação da placa oclusal rígida, ou seja, após três meses de término do tratamento fonoaudiológico. O grupo controle pareado por gênero e idade foi formado por 20 pacientes sem sinais e sintomas para DTM segundo RDC/TMDO e estes foram submetidos às mesmas avaliações em um único momento. As avaliações realizadas foram: RDC/TMD, ProDTMmulti (grau de severidade dos sinais e sintomas) e AMIOFE (avaliação miofuncional orofacial), algometria, força de mordida e eletromiografia de superfície dos músculos masseter e temporal. Os dados obtidos foram tabulados e a análise estatística realizada pelo programa BioEstat 5.0. Após o teste de normalização, a estatística não-paramétrica foi aplicada por meio dos testes Kruskal-Wallis e Friedman para amostras independentes e pareadas, respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram que o tratamento com placa oclusal rígida como tratamento único ou associada a tratamento prévio com fonoaudiólogo, proporciona melhora da sintomatologia dolorosa em longo prazo (T2 e T3) mesmo em pacientes com DTM crônica. Os escores para AMIOFE foram significantes apenas para as avaliações de mobilidade, função e o escore total para o grupo que recebeu tratamento com fonoaudiólogo e exercício miofuncional orofacial. O GP não demonstrou resultados estatisticamente significantes para esta avaliação. Os índices eletromiográficos, POC masseter, ASSIM e ATTIV foram analisados após a normalização dos dados e foi possível perceber maior simetria após os tratamentos propostos (GP e GTP), no entanto, esta diferença foi significativa apenas para o índice POC masseter para GTP e ATTIV para GP (p<0,05). Em suma, é possível concluir que os dois tratamentos foram efetivos para diminuição dos sinais e sintomas e melhora da função do sistema mastigatório em pacientes com DTM crônica, em longo prazo. De uma maneira geral, houve diferença significativa entre GP e GTP apenas para a avaliação do protocolo AMIOFE, onde o grupo que recebeu tratamento fonoaudiológico prévio apresentou resultados significativos / The aim of this study was to verify the effect of hard occlusal splint (HOS) in patients with chronic TMD, as a single treatment or associated with previous therapy. Patients diagnosed with TMD were selected according to the protocol for Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC / TMD), which were distributed in two experimental groups. In the first group, patient was treated with only HOS (GP, n = 20), and in the second one (GTP, n = 17) received prior therapy with a phonoaudiologist in 12 sessions of 45 minutes and after three months of the end of this treatment, they were submitted to treatment with POR, as well as GP. The evaluations of these patients were performed in three moments, before the treatment (T1), 3 months after the installation and adjustment of the HOS (T2) and 4 months after the installation and adjustment of HOS (T3). The GTP had one more evaluation (TS) that was performed before HOS, that is, after three months of phonoaudiology therapy. The control group was performed by 20 patients with no signs and symptoms for TMD according to RDC / TMD, matched by gender and age with experimental groups. They were submitted as the same evaluations that experimental group in one moment (T1) and received no treatment. The evaluations were: palpation pain, ProDTMmulti protocol (degree of severity of signs and symptoms), AMIOFE protocol (orofacial myofunctional evaluation), difficulty chewing questionnaire, algometry, bite force and surface electromyography of the masseter and temporal muscles. The data obtained were tabulated and the statistical analysis performed by the BioEstat 5.0 program. After the normalization test, the nonparametric statistic was applied through the Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests for independent and paired samples, respectively. The results showed that treatment with HOS as a single treatment or associated with previous treatment with a speech pathologist, provides an improvement in long-term painful symptoms (T2 and T3) even in patients with chronic TMD. AMIOFE scores were significant only for assessments of mobility, function, and total score for the group receiving orofacial myofunctional exercise (GTP). The GP did not show statistically significant results for this evaluation. The electromyographic indices, POC masseter, ASIM and ATTIV were analyzed after normalization of the data and it was possible to perceive greater symmetry after the proposed treatments (GP and GTP), however, this difference was only significant for the POC masseter index in GTP and ATTIV in GP (p <0.05). In conclusion, both treatments were effective in reducing signs and symptoms and improving the function of the masticatory system in patients with chronic TMD in the long term. In general, there was a significant difference between GP and GTP only for the evaluation of the AMIOFE protocol, where the group that received orafacial myofunctional therapy had significant results

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a função mastigatória de sujeitos com disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) dolorosa crônica por meio dos exames de eletromiografia de superfície (EMG), teste de eficiência mastigatória (EM) pelo Método Colorimétrico com cápsulas mastigatórias e força de mordida (FM), e verificar se: a DTM compromete a função mastigatória, ocasionando perda da EM e da FM; se há alteração da atividade eletromiográfica e do equilíbrio muscular durante a mastigação nestes sujeitos com DTM crônica; se as DTM influenciam na FM dos sujeitos acometidos. A amostra foi constituída por 60 sujeitos adultos de ambos os sexos com média de idade de 29,01 anos, classificados pelo protocolo Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/ TMD) e divididos em dois grupos: Grupo 1 (Grupo Controle), composto por 30 indivíduos livres de sinais e sintomas de DTM e sem qualquer classificação segundo o DC/TMD; Grupo 2 (Grupo DTM) composto por 30 indivíduos classificados como portadores de DTM crônica, segundo o DC/TMD. Posteriormente, foram submetidos ao questionário de auto percepção da dificuldade e habilidade mastigatória; seguidos da análise EMG estática e dinâmica (Eletromiógrafo Freely - De Götzen srl; Legano, Milano, Italy) com a mastigação de materiais de diferentes texturas (goma, passas, cápsula e amendoim) e dos testes de EM (Sistema de avaliação da Eficiência Mastigatória - ME-mastig FORP, FCFRP/USP) e de FM (Dinamômetro eletrônico Kratos, modelo DDK/M - Kratos Equipamentos, São Paulo, Brasil). Os dados experimentais foram analisados estatisticamente pela Análise de Variância (ANOVA - p0,05) para os valores de EMG, EM e FM. A amostra do G2, foi composta predominantemente por sujeitos apresentando as DTM do tipo mialgias, sendo dor miofascial com dor referida e artralgias, ambas bilaterais, de intensidade moderada (VAS = 5,01±1,88). Não foram evidenciadas diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre todos os índices eletromiográficos estáticos, quando comparado os resultados entre os grupos. Para os índices EMG dinâmicos, foi identificada diferença entre os grupos para o índice IMPACTO, nos quais os valores obtidos no G1 (controle) foram superiores ao G2 (DTM). A presença das DTM proporcionou valores de EM menores quando comparados ao grupo controle (p= 0,001*). Não foram evidenciadas diferenças significantes entre os valores de FM entre os grupos estudados (p=0,6). A DTM dolorosa crônica promove redução da eficiência mastigatória, todavia não altera a atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos masseter e temporal anterior nas provas estática e de mastigação, bem como não reduz a força de mordida molar máxima. Apesar da não modificação dos padrões funcionais (EMG e FM), há um prejuízo evidente na eficiência mastigatória, provavelmente relacionada à presença da dor e dos demais sinais e sintomas, ou seja, mesmo com o desconforto presente os sujeitos com DTM desempenham a mastigação, uma função de caráter vital, com padrões funcionais semelhantes a sujeitos controle, porém com eficiência reduzida / The aim of this study was to analyze the masticatory function of subjects with chronic painful temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) through surface electromyography (EMG) tests, masticatory efficiency test (ME) using the Colorimetric Method with masticatory capsules and bite force (BF), and verify if: DTM compromises the masticatory function, causing loss of ME and BF; if there is alteration of electromyographic activity and muscle balance during mastication in these subjects with chronic TMD; if the TMD influence the BF of the affected subjects. The sample consisted of 60 adult subjects of both sexes with mean age of 29.01 years, classified by the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/ TMD) and divided into two groups: Group 1 (Control Group), composed of 30 individuals free of signs and symptoms of TMD and without any classification according to the DC/ TMD; Group 2 (DTM Group) composed of 30 individuals classified as having chronic TMD, according to the DC/ TMD. Subsequently, they were submitted to the self-perception of difficulty and masticatory ability questionnaire; followed by static and dynamic EMG analysis (Electromiograph Freely - De Götzen srl; Legano, Milano, Italy) with the chewing of materials of different textures (gum, raisins, capsule and peanut) and the ME - ME-mastig - FORP, FCFRP / USP) and BF (Kratos electronic dynamometer, model DDK / M - Kratos Equipments, São Paulo, Brazil). The experimental data were analyzed statistically by the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA - p0.05) for the EMG, ME and BF values. The G2 sample was predominantly composed of subjects presenting TMDs of the myalgias type, being myofascial pain with referred pain and arthralgias, both bilateral, of moderate intensity (VAS = 5.01 ± 1.88). There were no statistically significant differences between all the static electromyographic indices, when the results between the groups were compared. For the dynamic EMG indexes, a difference was identified between the groups for the IMPACT index, in which the values obtained in G1 (control) were higher than G2 (TMD). The presence of TMD provided lower ME values when compared to the control group (p= 0.001*). There were no significant differences between FM values between the groups studied (p= 0.6). The chronic painful TMD promotes a reduction in masticatory efficiency, but does not alter the electromyographic activity of the masseter and anterior temporal muscles in the static and chewing tests, nor does it reduce the maximum molar bite force. Despite the non-modification of functional patterns (EMG and BF), there is an evident loss in masticatory efficiency, probably related to the presence of pain and other signs and symptoms, that is, even with the present discomfort the subjects with TMD perform chewing, a function of vital character, with functional patterns similar to control subjects, but with reduced efficiency

The need for mechanisms that assist human movements has been increasing due to the rising number of people that has some kind of movement disability. In this scenario, it is of great importance the development of control methods that assist the interface between a motor assistive device and its user. This work proposes a controller for an exoskeleton with one degree of freedom, using surface electromyography signals from the user as the input signal. An exoskeleton was adapted to serve as platform for the developed control method. To create an EMG-to-Angle model, a set of experiments were carried out with six subjects. The experiment consisted of a series of continuous and discrete elbow flexion and extension movements with different load levels. Using the experimental data, linear (ARIMAX) and non linear (Hammerstein-Wiener) system identification methods were evaluated to determine which is the best candidate for the estimation of the EMG-to-Angle model, based on its accuracy and ease of implementation. A new experiment wasconducted to develop a real-time controller, based on FIR model and tested in a real-timeapplication. Tests showed that the controller is capable of estimating the elbow joint angle with correlation above 70% and root-mean-square error below 25° when compared to the measured elbow joint angles. / A necessidade por mecanismos que auxiliam os movimentos do ser humano vem crescendo devido ao aumento do número de pessoas portadores de deficiências que afetam a capacidade motora. Nesse cenário, é de grande importância o desenvolvimento de métodos de controle que auxiliem a interface entre o dispositivo de assistência motora e o seu usuário. Esse trabalho propõe um controlador para um exoesqueleto com um grau de liberdade, usando sinais de eletromiografia de superfície do usuário como sinal de entrada. Um exoesqueleto foi adaptado para servir de plataforma para o método de controle desenvolvido. Para criar um modelo EMG-ângulo, um conjunto de experimentos foi conduzido com seis voluntários. O experimento consistiu em uma série de movimentos de flexo-extensão do cotovelo contínuos e discretos com diferentes níveis de carga. Utilizando os dados do experimento, métodos de identificação de sistemas linear (ARIMAX) e não linear (Hammerstein-Wiener) foram avaliados para determinar qual o melhor candidato para a estimação do modelo EMG-ângulo, baseado em sua acurácia e facilidade de implementação. Um novo experimento foi conduzido para desenvolver um controlador em tempo real, baseado no modelo FIR e testado em uma aplicação em tempo real. Testes indicaram que o controlador é capaz de estimar o ângulo da junta do cotovelo com valores de correlação acima de 70% e raiz do erro quadrático médio menor que 25º, quando comparados aos valores medidos de ângulo da junta do cotovelo.