Evaluation of Skeletal Muscle Contraction during Pedaling of Recumbent Bicycle using MMG / EMG Hybrid Transducer

Electromyogram (EMG) is recorded electrical muscle contraction, mechanomyogram (MMG) indicates cross-sectional area change of muscle, reflect mechanical muscle contraction. By simultaneously measuring both signals, it is possible to multifaceted evaluation of muscle contraction. However, MMG measurement at voluntary movement was difficult. Therefore, the authors developed MMG / EMG hybrid transducer capable of simultaneous measurement of MMG and EMG. This study evaluated MMG and EMG of rectus femoris (RF) and hamstrings using recumbent bicycle of easy load regulation. As result, dMMGbase (baseline of displacement MMG) indicated cross-sectional area change of muscle at pushing down and pulling up of pedal. In addition, EMG and dMMGbase increased with pushing down of pedal in RF, dMMGacc (acceleration dMMGbase) showing muscle contraction force was output simultaneously. Each signal of hamstrings had output that antagonize RF. By simultaneously measuring MMG and EMG at recumbent bicycle pedaling, it was possible to evaluate muscle contraction of voluntary movement.