För att undersöka misstänkt tillklämningsneuropati i peroneus communis (PC) används elektroneurografi, där elektrisk stimulering möjliggör undersökning av nervledningshastigheter, svarsamplitud och överledningstid. Vid opålitlig registrering på extensor digitorium brevis (EDB), görs registreringen på tibialis anterior (TA). I dagsläget finns dock inga normalvärden eller standardiserad metod för registrering på TA. Syftet med studien var därför att ta fram dessa normalvärden och utveckla en metod för TA-registrering, och samtidigt jämföra de båda registreringspunkterna gällande nervledningshastighet, undersöka sidoskillnaderna vid registrering på TA och undersöka hur kroppslängden påverkade överledningstiden. Det undersöktes om s.k. F-waves kunde påvisas vid registrering på TA och i så fall hur hög svarsandelen och svarslatensen var. 22 deltagare mellan 23-59 år gamla och 154-190 cm i kroppslängd undersöktes. TA undersöktes med den aktiva registreringselektroden på muskeln där den var som störst och med referenselektroden på fotleden. Stimuleringar gjordes på laterala poplitea fossa och 110 mm ned distalt om caput fibula. EDB undersöktes enligt metodbeskrivning. Normalvärdena för TA var 2,2-5,4 mV gällande amplitud, 55-73 m/s gällande nervledningshastighet och 3,8-5,9 ms gällande överledningstid. Sidoskillnaderna var 0-1,4 mV gällande amplitud, 0-8 m/s gällande hastighet och 0-0,8 ms gällande överledningstid. De beräknade gränsvärdena visar på de små sidoskillnaderna som krävs för en klinisk betydelse. Överledningstiden kunde till 23 % förklaras av kroppslängden. Resultaten var likvärdiga med tidigare studier. Jämförelsen av nervledningshastigheten mellan registrering på TA och EDB visade en statistiskt, men inte nödvändigtvis kliniskt signifikant skillnad, med bias + 5 m/s. F-waves återfanns hos samtliga deltagare, med svarsandelen 94-100 %. F-wave svarslatensen kunde till 41 % förklaras av kroppslängden. / Electroneurography is used to examine a suspected entrapmentneuropathy in peroneus communis (PC), where an electric stimulus enables the evaluation of nerve conduction velocity, muscle response amplitude and latency. If registration from the extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) provides unreliable results, the registration can be made from tibialis anterior (TA). Currently there are no normal values available in our laboratory and no standard method regarding the registration on TA. The purpose of this study was therefore to retrieve normal values for this registration and to develop and establish a method, and also compare the different registration sites, to examine the side differences from the registrations on TA, and how the height affected the latency. It was also examined if so called F-waves could be recorded from TA, and if so, determine the response rate and latency. 22 participants between 23-59 years an 154-190 cm were examined. TA was examined with the active registration electrode on the site where the muscle was the largest and the reference electrode on the ankle. Stimulations were made on lateral poplitea fossa and 110 mm lower on distal caput fibula. EDB were examined according to established methods. Normal values for the registration on TA were 2,2-5,4 mV regarding amplitude, 55-73 m/s regarding nerve conduction velocity and 3,8-5,9 ms regarding latency. Side differences were 0-1,4 mV regarding amplitude, 0-8 m/s regarding nerve conduction velocity and 0-0,8 ms regarding latency. The calculated limits show that it only takes small side differences to have a clinical significance. The method gave equivalent results to previous studies. 23 % of the latency could be explained by height. The comparing of the nerve conduction velocity from the different registrations showed a significant statistical, but not necessarily clinical, difference, with the bias 5 m/s. F-waves were retrieved from all participants with a response rate of 94-100 %. 41 % of the F-wave latency could be explained by height.

Sabe-se que a cada ano cerca de dois bilhões de pessoas consomem bebidas alcoólicas, e no Brasil há uma estimativa de que aproximadamente 11,2% da população é dependente de álcool, o que representa mais de cinco milhões de pessoas. Básicamente se pode dizer que todos os órgãos são afetados pela exposição crônica e aguda, mas as miopatias alcoólicas atingem de 1/3 a 2/3 dos alcoólatras e são as das doenças musculares mais frequentes. A literatura apresenta vários suplementos nutricionais que prometem melhora na performance de atividade físicas promovendo conservação ou hipertrofia das fibras musculares, mas estudos mais profundos tem demonstrado que apenas as suplementações de creatina e β- hidroxi-β-metilbutirato (HMB) demonstraram efeitos sobre a otimização dos ganhos de força e massa muscular, Os trabalhos com HMB afirmam que esta substância diminui a degradação proteica muscular e estimula a síntese proteica, entre outras atividades. Considerando os prejuízos causados pelo álcool no tecido muscular e os benefícios produzidos pelo HMB no mesmo tecido pensou-se na realização de um trabalho associando as duas substâncias para responder as seguintes perguntas: a-) o álcool e o HMB alteram do peso dos animais, atuando individualmente e em conjunto? b-) o álcool e o HMB alteram a área das fibras musculares do EDL e do sóleo, atuando individualmente e em conjunto? c-) se as alterações ocorrerem elas são semelhantes nos músculos EDL e sóleo? Para isso foram utilizados 25 ratos (Rattus novergicus), machos, adultos (com aproximadamente 90 dias de idade (407g) divididos em 4 grupos: Grupo Controle Placebo, Grupo Experimental Álcool (25%), Grupo β-Hidroxi β-Metilbutirato (0,3g/Kg) e Grupo Álcool + β-Hidroxi β- Metilbutirato. Foram retiradas amostras dos músculos sóleo e extensor longo dos dedos e submetidas a coloração de HE. Foi realizado a morfometria de duzentas fibras de cada músculo de cada animal. Estas fibras tiveram as suas áreas calculadas. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos ao tratamento estatístico. Os dados encontrados nesta pesquisa permitiram concluir que: : a-) o álcool alterou, de maneira negativa o peso dos animais, mas o HMB não, mesmo quando atuou em conjunto com o álcool, ou seja, o HMB não conseguiu anular o efeito negativo do álcool; b-) o álcool alterou, de maneira negativa a área das fibras dos músculos EDL e sóleo, e o HMB não, mas quando ele atuou em conjunto, conseguiu anular o efeito negativo do álcool; c-) as alterações produzidas pela ação do álcool e HMB, individualmente ou em conjunto foram semelhantes nos músculos EDL e sóleo. / It is known that every year about two billion people consume alcoholic beverages, and in Brazil there is an estimate that approximately 11.2% of the population is dependent on alcohol, which is more than five million people. Basically you can say that all organs are affected by chronic and acute exposure, but alcoholic myopathy reach 1/3 to 2/3 of alcoholics, and are the most frequent muscular diseases. The literature contains several nutritional supplements that promise improvement in physical activity performance promoting conservation or hypertrophy of muscle fibers, but further study has shown that only creatine supplementation and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) have shown effects on optimization the strength gains and muscle mass, works with HMB claim that this substance decreases muscle protein degradation and stimulates protein synthesis, among other activities. Considering the damage caused by alcohol in muscle tissue and the benefits produced by the HMB in the same fabric was thought in achieving a work combining the two substances to answer the following questions: a-) alcohol and HMB alter the weight of the animals, acting individually and together? b-) alcohol and HMB alter the area of the muscle fibers of the soleus and EDL individually and jointly acting? c) if changes occur they are similar in EDL and soleus muscles? For this we used 25 rats (Rattus norvegicus), adult male (approximately 90 days old (407 g) divided in 4 groups: Control Group Placebo Experiment Group Alcohol (25%), Group β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (0.3g / kg), and Group Alcohol + β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate. soleus and samples were taken long extensor muscles of the fingers and subjected to HE staining. morphometry was performed two hundred fibers of each muscle of each animal. These fibers had calculated their areas the data were subjected to statistical analysis the data found in this study showed that: a-) alcohol changed in a negative way the weight of the animals, but the HMB not even when he served in together with the alcohol, i.e., HMB could not nullify the negative effects of alcohol; b) alcohol changed in a negative way the area of the fibers of the EDL and soleus muscles, and HMB not, but when he acted together, could nullify the negative effect of alcohol; c) the changes produced by the action of alcohol and HMB, individually or together were similar in EDL and soleus muscles.

Lesões nervosas periféricas com alterações morfofuncionais são de grande importância clínica, porque pode prejudicar a função, comprometendo a sensibilidade e/ou a motricidade do órgão alvo. Quando o nervo é lesado, o indivíduo torna-se impossibilitado de realizar suas atividades, seja profissional ou pessoal, e a partir do acidente esta situação se agrava ainda mais, pois tem início uma trajetória de sofrimento e humilhações decorrentes do tipo de assistência que passa a receber, tendo em vista, ainda, a fragilidade emocional e o abatimento moral de que passa a ser vítima. Na tentativa de reparo de lesões graves de nervos periféricos, várias técnicas têm sido utilizada, mas algumas com prejuízos funcionais para outras área do corpo, como por exemplo, quando se usa outro nervo no enxerto. Considerando que enxertos venosos tem tido bons resultados na capacidade regenerativa das fibras nervosas, e como elas são encontradas em abundância e em locais de fácil acesso cirúrgico, pensou-se em verificar se o tecido adiposo e o laser de baixa potência alterariam os resultados da reinervação, por tubulização, em músculos de contração rápida (EDL). Para isso foi utilizado 84 ratos (Rattus norvegicus) da linhagem wistar, machos, que foram divididos em 12 grupos (oito experimentais e quatro controles). Nos grupos experimentais (GE) foi utilizada tubulização de veia preenchida, ou não de tecido adiposo (GEVV e GEVG, respectivamente), com e sem tratamento de laser (GEVVL e GEVGL, respectivamente). Os grupos controles (GC) receberam os nomes de positivos (GCP) quando os animais não sofreram intervenção cirúrgica, e negativos (GCN) quando os animais foram submetidos à desnervação do nervo ciático. Todos os grupos tiveram os seus animais sacrificados em dois períodos, 45 e 150 dias, após o início do experimento. A certificação da recuperação foi feita por meio da análise dos músculos inervados por ele (EDL), comparando-os com os respectivos grupos controles. Técnicas de microscopia, Imunofluorescência (MyoD e miogenina), apoptose (Tunel), morfométricas e análise funcional do ciático, foram empregadas nesta investigação. Os resultados mostraram que aos 45 dias pós desnervação os dados dos grupos experimentais estavam mais próximos do grupo controle negativo, mas aos 150 dias eles estavam mais próximos aos do grupo controle positivo. Baseado nos dados obtidos pode-se concluir que o uso de tecido adiposo e do laser de baixa potência na técnica de tubulização do nervo ciático interferem na recuperação do músculo EDL desnervado. / The peripheral nerves injuries with morphofunctional alterations, have great clinical importance because could prejudice the function, committing the sensibility and/or the motricity of target organ. When nerve is damage, the individual becomes disabled to realize yours activities, either professional or personal, in the post accident periods, this situation aggravates each more, therefore initiate a trajectory of suffering and distressing despite of the kind of assistance that this person receives, in view of your emotional fragility and your moral discouragement that pass to be victim. In attempt to repair severe peripheral nerves lesions, many techniques had been used, but some present functional prejudices to other area of bodies, for example when other autologous nerve graft it is used. Considering that, vein graft had demonstrated good results in regenerative nerve fibers capacity, and the vein are found in abundance in many locals of chirurgic access, it thought in verify if the adipose tissue and low power laser could alter the reinnervation results, by tubulization technique, in fast twitch muscle (EDL). For this, was used 84 rats (Rattus norvegicus) wistar, male, divided in 12 groups (eight experimental and four controls). In the experimental groups (EG) was used tubulization by vein combined / or not with adipose tissue (EGV and EGVA, receptively), with or without laser treatment (EGVL and EGVAL, respectively). The controls groups (CG) was called of positives (CGP) when the animals did not subject to transaction nerve, and negatives (CGN) when the sciatic nerve was transaction in this animals. All groups had the animals scarified in two periods, 45 and 150 days post experiments beginning. The recuperation was notified by means of muscle innervated analysis (EDL), comparing with the respective controls groups. Microscope techniques, Immunofluorescence for (MyoD and Miogenin), apoptosis by (Tunel assay), morphometrics and sciatic functional analysis, were employed in this investigation. The results showed that in the 45 days post-dennervation, the data of experimental groups was nearest of negative control group (transaction sciatic nerve), but in the 150 days they was nearest to the positive control group. Based on this, could be conclude that the use of adipose tissue and low power laser used in the tubulization technique by vein in the sciatic nerve interfere in the recuperation of EDL muscle dennervated.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters’ Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Department of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Background: Spinal manipulation has been shown to result in neurophysiological changes, most often noted in the paraspinal muscles. These effects have been associated with an increase in paraspinal muscle contractibility; it is unclear if this leads to an increase in paraspinal muscle endurance. Objectives: To determine the effect of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) manipulation compared to a placebo treatment of the SIJ on lumbar extensor muscle endurance time. Method: A randomised, placebo-controlled pre-test post-test experimental trial, involving 40 asymptomatic male participants divided into an intervention group receiving SIJ manipulation using an impulse adjusting instrument and a placebo group receiving a pre-load force without the delivery of an impulse thrust. Outcome measures were lumbar extensor muscle endurance time, surface electromyographic (SEMG) readings, lumbar spinal range of motion, paraspinal muscle length assessment and a subjective pain measurement. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups (p=0.004) with the SIJ manipulation group showing an increase in endurance time compared to the placebo group which showed a decrease. SEMG readings increased for both groups with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). Only extension lumbar spinal range of motion significantly improved in both groups (p=˂0.001) with no significant differences between groups (p=0.876). Only one participant reported pain during the research procedure. Conclusions: SIJ manipulation may enhance the endurance of the paraspinal muscles. This study should be conducted in a larger sample to validate the findings.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters’ Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Department of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Background Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is a commonly used therapeutic modality. It has been shown that neuromuscular reflexes are elicited during spinal manipulation resulting in changes in the surrounding muscle tonicity and seen as changes in surface electromyography. Despite this little is known about the effect that SMT may have on muscle function. Increased maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the paraspinal muscles has been observed following lumbar SMT compared to a control and sham treatment; however its effect on muscle endurance has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lumbar SMT compared to a placebo treatment on lumbar extensor muscle endurance in asymptomatic individuals. Method This study was a quantitative double blinded, pre-test and post-test placebo controlled experimental trial. Forty asymptomatic participants were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups. One group received a single SMT applied to the L3 vertebrae and the other received the pre-load force of the SMT but no thrust. Subjective (a self-report of pain/discomfort while performing the Biering-Sorensen test) and objective [surface electromyography (sEMG), paraspinal muscle endurance time and lumbar spine range of motion] measurements were taken pre- and post-intervention. The latest version of SPSS version (IBM SPSS Inc.) was used to analyse the data. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Independent t-tests were used to compare means and two-way factor ANOVA (for repeated measures) was used to compare the change in the two time points between the two treatment groups (intervention and control). RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and placebo groups in terms of subjective reports of pain/discomfort and objective evidence of surface EMG readings, paraspinal muscle endurance time and lumbar spine range of motion.

O óleo extensor normalmente empregado em copolímeros à base de butadieno e estireno ( borracha SBR) da série 1712 é o extrato aromático (DAE). Nesta Dissertação, esse óleo foi substituído por óleos com baixos teores de policíclicos aromáticos em formulações de SBR. Esta substituição se deu em atendimento a Regulamentação REACH (EC No1907/2006 do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho de 18 de Dezembro de 2006, Anexo XVII) que determina que a soma de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos individuais (PAHs) deve ser abaixo de 10 mg/kg e o teor de benzo(a)pireno (BaP) não deve exceder 1 mg/kg. Os óleos empregados foram o extrato aromático residual tratado (TRAE) e dois óleos naftênicos de fornecedores diferentes (HN1 e HN2). As composições de SBR estendidas em DAE, TRAE, HN1 e HN2 tiveram suas propriedades térmicas avaliadas por análise termogravimétrica (TG) e calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC). As propriedades físicas foram determinadas por ensaios de tração, dureza, resistência à abrasão e resiliência. Foram ainda avaliadas as propriedades reométricas e reológicas, por viscosidade e relaxação Mooney, respectivamente. Ao final os resultados demonstraram que é possível a substituição do óleo extensor por quaisquer dos óleos testados sem prejuízos nas propriedades estudadas / The extender oil usually employed in compositions of rubbers based on sytrene and butadiene (SBR) 1712 is the aromatic extract DAE. In this Dissertation, this oil was substituted by oils with low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: the treated residual aromatic extract (TRAE) and two naphthenic oils from different suppliers (HN1 and HN2). This substitution was performed in response to REACH Regulation (EC No1907/2006 European Parliament and the Council of 18 December 2006, Annex XVII) which state that the sum of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) should be below 10 mg / kg and the levels of benzo (a) pyrene (BaP) should not exceed 1 mg / kg. SBR compositions extended with DAE, TRAE, HN1 and HN2 were characterized in terms of thermal properties by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheometric properties, physical properties (tension tests, hardness, abrasion resistance and resilience) and rheological (viscosity and Mooney relaxation). The final results showed that it is possible to replace the extender oil DAE for any of the tested oils without loss in the studied properties

This thesis examined the change in skeletal muscle architecture with contractile force production, the relationship of architecture with muscle strength parameters and if muscle tendinous tissue stiffness determines in vivo explosive strength (i.e. rate of torque development, RTD). Muscle and tendinous tissue adaptations to contrasting strength training regimes, and the potential capacity of these tissues to adapt following chronic strength training were also explored. Quadriceps femoris fascicle length (FL) decreased, while the pennation angle (PA) increased in a curvi-linearly manner from rest to maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque. Consequently, effective physiological cross-sectional area (effPCSA) during MVC was 27% greater than at rest, although effPCSA measured at rest and during MVC had similar correlations to maximal strength. In the earliest phase of contraction, FL, but not PA, was negatively related (R2=0.187) to voluntary RTD. Neither FL nor PA was related to maximal isometric or dynamic strength. Muscle-tendon unit (MTU) and patellar tendon (PT) stiffness were unrelated to voluntary and evoked RTD. Relative PT stiffness was also unrelated to relative RTD, although relative MTU stiffness was related to voluntary RTD (25-55%MVT, R2≤0.188) and evoked RTD (5-50%MVT, R2≤0.194). MTU stiffness increased after sustained-contraction (SCT, +21%), though not explosive-contraction strength training (ECT). PT stiffness increased similarly after ECT (+20%) and SCT (+16%), yet neither induced tendon hypertrophy. SCT produced modest muscle (+8%) and aponeurosis (+7%) hypertrophy. Chronic strength trained (CST: >3 years) males had substantially greater muscle and aponeurosis size, but similar tendon size as untrained controls (UNT) and short-term (12 weeks) strength trained (STT) individuals. Between these groups, at the highest common force, MTU stiffness was indifferent, while PT stiffness was similarly greater in STT and CST than UNT. These results suggest FL and PA have little influence on muscle strength and tendon stiffness has no influence on RTD. Maximum strength negated any qualitative influence of MTU stiffness on in vivo RTD. Component MTU tissues (muscle-aponeurosis vs. external tendon) adapt differentially depending on the strength training regime. Specifically, free tendon appeared to adapt to high magnitude loading, while loading duration is also an important stimulus for the muscle-aponeurosis. However, chronic strength training was not concordant with greater higher force MTU stiffness, and does not further increase higher force PT stiffness beyond the adaptations that occur after 12 weeks of strength training. Finally, no evidence was found for tendon hypertrophy in response to strength training.

O óleo extensor normalmente empregado em copolímeros à base de butadieno e estireno ( borracha SBR) da série 1712 é o extrato aromático (DAE). Nesta Dissertação, esse óleo foi substituído por óleos com baixos teores de policíclicos aromáticos em formulações de SBR. Esta substituição se deu em atendimento a Regulamentação REACH (EC No1907/2006 do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho de 18 de Dezembro de 2006, Anexo XVII) que determina que a soma de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos individuais (PAHs) deve ser abaixo de 10 mg/kg e o teor de benzo(a)pireno (BaP) não deve exceder 1 mg/kg. Os óleos empregados foram o extrato aromático residual tratado (TRAE) e dois óleos naftênicos de fornecedores diferentes (HN1 e HN2). As composições de SBR estendidas em DAE, TRAE, HN1 e HN2 tiveram suas propriedades térmicas avaliadas por análise termogravimétrica (TG) e calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC). As propriedades físicas foram determinadas por ensaios de tração, dureza, resistência à abrasão e resiliência. Foram ainda avaliadas as propriedades reométricas e reológicas, por viscosidade e relaxação Mooney, respectivamente. Ao final os resultados demonstraram que é possível a substituição do óleo extensor por quaisquer dos óleos testados sem prejuízos nas propriedades estudadas / The extender oil usually employed in compositions of rubbers based on sytrene and butadiene (SBR) 1712 is the aromatic extract DAE. In this Dissertation, this oil was substituted by oils with low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: the treated residual aromatic extract (TRAE) and two naphthenic oils from different suppliers (HN1 and HN2). This substitution was performed in response to REACH Regulation (EC No1907/2006 European Parliament and the Council of 18 December 2006, Annex XVII) which state that the sum of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) should be below 10 mg / kg and the levels of benzo (a) pyrene (BaP) should not exceed 1 mg / kg. SBR compositions extended with DAE, TRAE, HN1 and HN2 were characterized in terms of thermal properties by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheometric properties, physical properties (tension tests, hardness, abrasion resistance and resilience) and rheological (viscosity and Mooney relaxation). The final results showed that it is possible to replace the extender oil DAE for any of the tested oils without loss in the studied properties

Les signaux électromyographiques de surface (sEMG) correspondent aux signaux électriques composés par les potentiels d’action produits par les unités motrices d’un muscle actif et enregistrés par des électrodes de surface. Les signaux sEMG sont largement utilisés dans la médicine, le contrôle des prothèses et plus généralement dans les études biomécaniques portant sur l’analyse du mouvement humain. Les signaux sEMG sont très souvent utilisés comme un indicateur d’activation musculaire.Bien que présentant un intérêt évident, l’utilisation de ces signaux reste difficile compte tenu qu’ils sont souvent susceptibles d’interférence (diaphonie, ou plus communément « crosstalk ») entre les muscles contigus, parfois même éloignés. Cette contamination croisée est particulièrement présente pour des muscles présents dans un volume restreint, ce qui est le cas des muscles extenseur de l’index et du petit doigt, extensor indicis et extensor digiti minimi. L’interférence induit la réduction de la précision de l’estimation des activations musculaires et reste, à ce titre, un problème important et récurrent de la biomécanique. Afin que les signaux sEMG puissent être utilisés de manière plus robuste en biomécanique, il convient de réduire cette interférence avant de procéder à l’estimation des activations musculaires. Les activations individuelles des muscles participant au mouvement correctement estimées peuvent être utilisées comme données d’entrées d’un modèle biomécanique. Cette démarche, nommée dynamique directe, permet notamment d’estimer la force externe produite par le système et dans un second temps de comparer cette dernière avec la mesure réalisée grâce à un système dynamométrique. En ce sens cette démarche permet une validation indirecte des estimations réalisées à partir des signaux sEMG. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons modélisé le doigt et plus particulièrement le mécanisme extenseur qui est une structure qui transmet les forces des muscles-extenseurs aux articulations digitales. Cette structure est très mal connue du point de vue biomécanique et le plus souvent représentée par un ensemble des coefficients établis sur l’analyse de mains de cadavres dans des situations très particulières et standardisées (doigts en extension). Ainsi, l’objectif de ce travail de thèse était double : (1) améliorer l’estimation de la force au bout du doigt à partir des mélanges des sEMG sur la base d’extraction des activations des signaux sEMG des muscles extensor indicis et extensor digiti minimi, et (2) modélisation biomécanique du mécanisme extenseur du doigt. Pour cela, les signaux sEMG ont été enregistrés avec une matrice d’électrodes de surface haute densité à 64 capteurs. Ensuite, l’extraction des activations musculaires a été réalisée sur la base d’une procédure de classification des potentiels détectés en utilisant les invariants musculaires que sont la direction de propagation et la profondeur de l’unité motrice à l’origine du signal.Dans un deuxième temps, un modèle biomécanique précis du mécanisme extenseur du doigt a été créé, qui contient les tendons et les principaux ligaments représentés par des bandes et des surfaces élastiques. Un algorithme de paramétrage du modèle a été proposé. Ce type d ‘approche est nécessaire pour mieux décrire les déformations du système anatomique dans des situations de mouvement sain ou pathologique.Cette démarche a montré qu’elle était pertinente pour l’étude biomécanique du doigt. Elle présente des utilisations judicieuses pour les études biomécaniques portant sur l’évaluation clinique, la réhabilitation et le contrôle des prothèses myoélectriques. / The surface electromyographic signals (SEMG) are the electric signals, composed of electric potentials. These potentials are produced by the recruited motor units of an active muscle and captured by the surface electrodes. The SEMG signals are widely used in medicine, prosthesis control and biomechanical studies as an indicator of muscle activity.However, SEMG measurements are usually subjects of crosstalk or interference from nearby muscles. It appears when two or more muscles situated close to each other are active during a SEMG recording. An example of such muscles are the extensors of index and little finger, extensor indicis and extensor digiti minimi, situated close to each other and creating a significant amount of mutual crosstalk when simultaneously active. The crosstalk causes precision decrease of SEMG-based estimation of muscle activations. Hence, the crosstalk-reducing problem must be preliminary solved before muscle activation evaluation.Once the activations of individual muscles are estimated from the mixture, they may be used as an input of a finger biomechanical model to calculate a fingertip force. These models usually contain an extensor mechanism of the finger, which is a structure, transmitting the force from the extensor muscles to the finger joints. This structure is often taken into account as a set of coefficients. However, there is a lack of study about how these coefficients vary with posture, applied force, and subject variability.The purpose of this work is to improve the finger force estimation from the crosstalk-contaminated signals for isometric tasks by extracting the activations of individual muscles and improving the finger biomechanical model.Firstly, the SEMG signals were recorded with high-density surface electromyographic (HD-EMG) electrode matrix. The extraction was based on classifying the detected potentials according their propagation direction and depth of originating motor unit.Secondly, a precise biomechanical model of the finger extensor mechanism was created, containing the principal tendons and ligaments. The algorithm of the model parametrization was proposed as well.The proposed methods of muscle activation estimation along with the created extensor mechanism model may be used for calculating the fingertip force and internal tissues deformations for normal or pathological fingers.

<p>Biomechanical and neural factors have both been suggested to contribute to the limited independence of finger movement and involuntary force production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of finger independence by examining the activity of the four compartments of extensor digitorum (ED) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) using surface electromyography and involuntary force production in the non-task fingers using methods such as the “enslaving effect” (EE) and the “selectivity index” (SI). Twelve male participants performed a series of 5-second sub-maximal exertions at 5, 25, 50 and 75% of maximum using isometric isotonic and ramp finger flexion and extension exertions. Ramp exertions were performed from 0 to 85% of each finger’s maximum force with ascending and descending phases taking 4.5 seconds each with 0.5 seconds of plateau at 85%. Lower EE and higher SI (more selective force production) was found in flexion exertions compared to extension partially due to the higher activity of the antagonist ED compartments counterbalancing the involuntary activation of the non-task FDS compartments. Minimal FDS activity was seen during extension exertions. At forces up to and including 50%, both EE and muscle activity of the non-task compartments were significantly higher in descending exertions than the isotonic or ascending exertions. The selectivity index was also lower during the descending flexion and extension exertions at 25 and 50% MVC exertions. Up to mid-level forces, both finger proximity and contraction mode affects involuntary force production and muscle activation while at higher forces only finger proximity (and not the exertion mode) contributes to finger independence. The fingers were less selective at higher exertion levels (75% MVC) and all 3 exertion modes resulted in similar SI at 75% MVC in all flexion and extension exertions.</p> / Master of Science in Kinesiology