Jun Hee Yoon , Iseul Jo , Yoon Hyung Cho , Kyeongtak Song , Hae-Dong Lee
{"title":"Hamstring muscle shortens actively during the late swing phase of high-speed running","authors":"Jun Hee Yoon , Iseul Jo , Yoon Hyung Cho , Kyeongtak Song , Hae-Dong Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle–tendon unit (MTU) and fascicle behavior of the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) along with the activation during the swing phase of high-speed running. Nine active males ran on a treadmill at 70, 80, and 90 % of their maximum running speed. Kinematics of the hip and knee joints were collected during running. The fascicle length of the BFlh was monitored using a B-mode real-time ultrasound imaging system. Muscle activation of the BFlh was simultaneously recorded using surface electromyography. During the swing phase of running, the changes in the MTU length for 80 % and 90 % of the maximum running speed was greater than 70 % (<em>p</em> < 0.05). The fascicle was actively lengthened with weak activation during the early to the middle swing phase but actively shortened with strong activation during the late swing phase. Despite the different changes in the MTU length with increasing running speeds (<em>p</em> < 0.05), the fascicle length change was not different. During the late swing phase of high-speed running, the BFlh fascicle was actively shortened, suggesting further investigation explaining the cause of high-speed running-related muscle strain injury while considering the functional characteristics of the muscle–tendon interaction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103022"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144204992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Avery Hinks , Pardeep Khangura , Elira Leake , Taylor Beedie , Muhammad M. Kathia , Sergiu-Gabriel Duplea , Leslie A. Witton , Barbara S. Connolly , Jamie F. Burr , Philip J. Millar , Geoffrey A. Power
{"title":"Performance fatigability on a constant-load dynamic task is greater in females with moderate-severity Parkinson’s disease than healthy-aging controls","authors":"Avery Hinks , Pardeep Khangura , Elira Leake , Taylor Beedie , Muhammad M. Kathia , Sergiu-Gabriel Duplea , Leslie A. Witton , Barbara S. Connolly , Jamie F. Burr , Philip J. Millar , Geoffrey A. Power","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103023","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103023","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with self-reported fatigue. While fatigue is a disabling symptom, performance fatigability, a decline in strength or power during sustained tasks, remains poorly understood, particularly during isotonic (constant-load) contractions, which are encountered in everyday activities. We assessed performance fatigability and recovery in people with PD compared to healthy-aging controls. Fifteen females with PD and 14 healthy-aging controls underwent neuromuscular testing of knee extensors using dynamometry. Participants then performed repeated maximal-effort isotonic knee extensions at a 20 % maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) load until peak power declined 40 %. Performance fatigability was assessed by repetitions to task failure, with recovery tracked for 10 min afterwards. Despite no baseline differences in neuromuscular performance, PD achieved ∼58 % fewer repetitions to failure. Immediately post-task failure, compared to controls, PD exhibited less fatigue-induced impairments in MVC torque, voluntary activation, and quadriceps electromyographic (EMG) activity, but similar impairment of twitch torque. For power and twitch torque, PD and controls recovered similarly, whereas PD recovered sooner for MVC torque and quadriceps EMG. Isotonic performance fatigability differs subtly between PD and healthy controls, providing novel insights into the physical manifestations of fatigue in PD and potential implications for understanding disease progression and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103023"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Declan Price , Karen A. Ginn , Mark Halaki , Victor Kwasi , Darren Reed
{"title":"The validity of surface electrodes to record latissimus dorsi activity during submaximal trunk movement and stability tasks","authors":"Declan Price , Karen A. Ginn , Mark Halaki , Victor Kwasi , Darren Reed","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The latissimus dorsi, a large superficial muscle connecting the pelvis, trunk and humerus, has the potential to contribute to trunk movement and stability. Surface electrodes are most typically used to record latissimus dorsi muscle activity during trunk tasks. However, there is the risk of crosstalk from nearby muscles, potentially leading to inaccurate muscle activity estimations. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the validity of using surface electrodes to record latissimus dorsi activity levels during submaximal trunk tasks by comparing the readings to indwelling electrodes simultaneously recorded at the same location.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Thirteen asymptomatic participants had indwelling electrodes inserted below the inferior angle of the scapula and surface electrodes placed over the same location. The participants completed submaximal trunk movements and stability tasks in various positions.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were no significant differences in latissimus dorsi activity recorded between surface and indwelling electrodes in all submaximal trunk movement tasks. However, during the trunk stability tasks the surface electrodes recorded significantly higher activity than the indwelling electrodes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Surface electrodes are recommended as a valid option to record latissimus dorsi activity during submaximal trunk movement tasks. For tasks that challenge trunk stability, indwelling electrodes are recommended to avoid crosstalk from underlying muscles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 103013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143946575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tom Donnelly , Nathan Routledge , Elena Seminati , Benjamin Metcalfe
{"title":"A method for locating surface electromyography electrodes on the flexor carpi ulnaris","authors":"Tom Donnelly , Nathan Routledge , Elena Seminati , Benjamin Metcalfe","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), a superficial forearm muscle which provides wrist flexion and ulnar deviation, is used in surface electromyography (sEMG) applications for clinical assessments, rehabilitation, and human-machine interfaces. Proper electrode location on the forearm muscles is imperative due to small signal amplitudes and susceptibility to interference and crosstalk, where poor placement can give ambiguous or erroneous results. Currently, no formal method exists for locating sEMG electrodes over the FCU muscle. General advice is to palpate and observe muscle movements, however, this depends on the practitioner’s experience-level, so can be subjective and inconsistent.</div><div>This paper presents a systematic method for locating sEMG electrodes on the FCU muscle using palpation of the pisiform bone and humeral medial epicondyle, and establishing the muscle line between. The technique’s efficacy was assessed using sEMG from three sites on the muscle belly, testing both arms of 10 participants, and analysing the resulting SNR, mean absolute value (MAV), and frequency spectrum. An electrode location at 80% of the distance from the pisiform is recommended to provide the highest median SNR and MAV across participants. These results provide guidance for locating a suitable and consistent sEMG site on the FCU that is less reliant on practitioner experience, which may benefit both clinical and biomedical engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143927655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tim Brümmer , Hongyu Lu , Haodi Yang , Lukas Baier , Christoph Braun , Markus Siegel , Justus Marquetand
{"title":"Training adaptations in magnetomyography","authors":"Tim Brümmer , Hongyu Lu , Haodi Yang , Lukas Baier , Christoph Braun , Markus Siegel , Justus Marquetand","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Muscle strength training leads to neuromuscular adaptations that can be monitored by electromyography (EMG). In view of new technical possibilities to measure the neuromuscular system via contactless magnetomyography (MMG) using miniaturized quantum sensors (optically pumped magnetometer, OPM), the question arises whether MMG detects similar neuromuscular adaptations compared to EMG. Therefore, we developed an experimental design and a multimodal setup for the simultaneous measurement of EMG, triaxial OPM-MMG, and vigorimetry. As a proof of concept, right biceps brachii muscle activity was recorded during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and a 40 % MVC muscle fatigue paradigm over 3 min in 12 healthy, untrained subjects. Measurements were taken before and after a 30-day strength training program, with six subjects undergoing training and six serving as controls. EMG and MMG showed a similar increase in RMS during MVC and fatigue after training (r > 0.9). However, the MMG increase varied by vector component, with the magnetic flux signal along the muscle fibers showing the highest RMS increase. Furthermore, these MMG findings can be visualized three-dimensionally using one OPM, which is not possible with bipolar EMG. This is the first longitudinal MMG study to demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring strength training-induced adaptations over 4 weeks, which highlights the opportunities and challenges of OPM-MMG for contactless neuromuscular monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103012"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143923622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Patrick Vallance , Ummatul Siddique , Ash Frazer , Peter Malliaras , Bill Vicenzino , Dawson J. Kidgell
{"title":"Transcranial magnetic stimulation and electrical stimulation techniques used to measure the excitability of distinct neuronal populations that influence motor output in people with persistent musculoskeletal conditions: A scoping review and narrative synthesis of evidence","authors":"Patrick Vallance , Ummatul Siddique , Ash Frazer , Peter Malliaras , Bill Vicenzino , Dawson J. Kidgell","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Functional impairments are evident in persistent musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, and linked to altered excitability of neuronal elements contributing to motor output. In MSK conditions, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or electrical stimulation (ES) techniques have been used to investigate intracortical, corticospinal, spinal and neuromuscular excitability, which influence the efficacy of descending volley transmission to produce movement. This review compiled studies using TMS or ES to investigate neuronal excitability in persistent MSK conditions, to identify techniques used, and to synthesis evidence for neural deficits. We used narrative synthesis to summarise individual study findings. We included 60 studies; 52/60 used at least one TMS technique, and more frequently measured corticospinal tract excitability (48/52). 15/60 studies used at least one ES technique, and more frequently measured neuromuscular excitability (15/15). In tendinopathy, excitability was assessed for a range of distinct neurones; no study measured neuromuscular excitability in low back pain, osteoarthritis or shoulder pain, nor spinal or intracortical excitability in shoulder pain. This review identified a range of TMS and ES techniques used to assess excitability of neural elements. It provides insight for specific deficits contributing to functional impairments in certain persistent MSK conditions, while highlighting evidence gaps hindering the ability to draw meaningful inferences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103011"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143873349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Megan Trotman , Phuong L. Ha , Kylie Tucker , Thomas Cattagni , Anna L. Hatton
{"title":"The effects of plantar surface stimulation on neuromuscular responses during standing balance and gait in healthy and clinical populations: A systematic review","authors":"Megan Trotman , Phuong L. Ha , Kylie Tucker , Thomas Cattagni , Anna L. Hatton","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Enhanced sensory input applied to the plantar surface of the feet, through innovative sensory-stimulating footwear devices, has the potential to improve standing balance and gait. However, the underlying mechanisms by which sensory-stimulating footwear devices bring about their effects on balance and gait remain unclear: changes in neuromuscular control are one possible option. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the effects of enhanced plantar surface stimulation, via footwear, shoe inserts, or floor surfaces, on neuromuscular responses during standing balance and walking gait in healthy and clinical populations. Four databases were selected to identify studies of plantar stimulation devices designed to alter neuromuscular responses during balance or gait. 2773 articles were screened for eligibility based on title and abstract. Thereafter, 37 articles underwent full text review, of which 17 articles were included in the review. The evidence that enhanced plantar sensory stimulation alters muscle activity during standing balance is limited, and during gait is moderate. The effects of sensory-stimulating footwear devices also appear to be dependent on factors such as the target population, the location of the sensory stimuli under the foot, or the complexity of the postural or walking task.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103007"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143792035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mirjam Thielen , Anna Pennekamp , Julia Janine Glaser , Leila Harhaus-Wähner , Ulrich Kneser , Paul Alfred Grützner , Ursula Trinler
{"title":"An objective method to quantify elbow flexor spasticity using surface EMG and 3D motion analysis","authors":"Mirjam Thielen , Anna Pennekamp , Julia Janine Glaser , Leila Harhaus-Wähner , Ulrich Kneser , Paul Alfred Grützner , Ursula Trinler","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spasticity in the upper extremities, particularly elbow flexor spasticity, significantly impairs motor control. Evaluating the extent of spasticity is crucial for effective therapy planning and assessing treatment outcomes. However, there are currently no accurate and reliable measures to quantify upper extremity spasticity. This study aims to introduce an instrumented assessment method for evaluating elbow flexor spasticity using an integrated approach tailored for spasticity assessment. This clinical study included 17 patients with elbow flexor spasticity (mean age 40 ± 20 years) and 20 arms of 10 healthy adults (mean age 33 ± 8 years). The elbow flexors were passively stretched at low and high velocities, and kinematic data were recorded using 3D motion analysis (U.L.E.M.A. model). Muscle excitations of the biceps brachii were assessed via surface EMG. Outcome parameters included the maximum elbow extension deficit during slow and fast passive stretch, EMG data normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) at low and high velocities, and the difference between the two (EMGchange). All outcome parameters showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between patients with elbow flexor spasticity and healthy adults. The proposed instrumented assessment tool is a suitable measurement method for evaluating elbow flexor spasticity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103004"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdulmajeed Alfayyadh , Kelsey Neal , Jack R. Williams , Ashutosh Khandha , Kurt Manal , Lynn Snyder-Mackler , Thomas S. Buchanan
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Limb and sex-related differences in knee muscle co-contraction exist 3 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction” [J. Electromyogr. and Kines. 66 (2022) 102693]","authors":"Abdulmajeed Alfayyadh , Kelsey Neal , Jack R. Williams , Ashutosh Khandha , Kurt Manal , Lynn Snyder-Mackler , Thomas S. Buchanan","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103002","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103002"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wenjie Chen, Shenke Zhang, Xiantao Sun, Cheng Zhang, Yuanyuan Liu
{"title":"MVMD-TCCA: A method for gesture classification based on surface electromyographic signals","authors":"Wenjie Chen, Shenke Zhang, Xiantao Sun, Cheng Zhang, Yuanyuan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jelekin.2025.103006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gesture recognition plays a fundamental role in enabling nonverbal communication and interaction, as well as assisting individuals with motor impairments in performing daily tasks. Surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals, which can effectively detect and predict motor intentions, are integral to achieving accurate gesture classification. This paper proposes a method, the multivariate variational mode decomposition and the two-channel convolutional neural network with added attention mechanism (MVMD-TCCA), to enhance the accuracy of gesture classification for motor intention recognition. The MVMD technique is utilized to decompose and fuse sEMG signals, enriching signal content and improving feature representation. To further optimize gesture classification performance, the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and CrissCross attention mechanism are integrated into the neural network, enabling superior learning of local and spatial features. The experimental results show that the MVMD-TCCA method achieves an average classification accuracy of 85.09 % on the NinaPro DB2 dataset, representing a 13.46 % improvement compared to the use of the original signal, and an average classification accuracy of 97.90 % on the dataset collected from 15 subjects, reflecting a 1.70 % improvement over the original signal. These findings underscore the critical role of accurate gesture classification in facilitating daily task assistance for cerebral infarction patients, demonstrating the potential of the proposed approach.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":56123,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology","volume":"82 ","pages":"Article 103006"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143738397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}