• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2012

Previous investigators have shown that the frequency compression is related to the muscle fatigue and the decreasing conduction velocity of muscle fibers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between endurance times and frequency parameters such as mean power frequency and median frequency in the surface EMG signal during isotonic contractions. Eight healthy subjects performed voluntary isotonic contractions of biceps Brachii muscle until their endurance times which were determined when the subject could no longer follow the contraction cycle. The regressive slopes of mean power frequency and median frequency were used to describe the frequency compression of the surface EMG signal, and to test the predictability of endurance time. As results of experiment, significant correlations were found between endurance time and the regressive slopes of mean power frequency and mean frequency computed over 50%Tend of endurance time.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1641-1648
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• 2017

Many researchers had examined the validity of using the high-to-low ratio between two fixed frequency band amplitudes (H/L-FFB) from the surface electromyography of a face and body as the first spectral index to assess muscle fatigue. Despite these studies, the disadvantage of this index is the lack of a criterion for choosing the optimal border frequency. We tested the potential of using the high-to-low ratio between two signal spectral moments (H/L-SSM), without fixed border frequencies, to evaluate muscle fatigue and predict endurance time ($T_{end}$), which was determined when the subject was exhausted and could no longer follow the fixed contraction cycle. Ten healthy participants performed five sets of voluntary isotonic contractions until they could only produce 10% and 20% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The $T_{end}$ values for all participants were $138{\pm}35s$ at 10% MVC and $69{\pm}20s$ at 20% MVC. Changes in conventional spectral indices, such as the mean power frequency (MPF), Dimitrov spectral index (DSI), H/L-FFB, and H/L-SSM, were extracted from surface EMG signals and were monitored using the initial slope computed every 10% of $T_{end}$ as a statistical indicator and compared as a predictor of $T_{end}$. Significant correlations were found between $T_{end}$ and the initial H/L-SSM slope as computed over 30% of $T_{end}$. In conclusion, initial H/L-SSM slope can be used to describe changes in the spectral content of surface EMG signals and can be employed as a good predictor of $T_{end}$ compared to that of conventional spectral indices.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 2012

Gender differences have been studied by using spectral features such as median frequency (MDF) respectively. MDF is the most commonly used as a feature to describe muscle conduction velocity. The aim of this paper is to detect gender differences from surface EMG signals during isotonic contractions of the bicep Brachii. Eight volunteers participated in surface EMG recordings placed on the biceps brachii and each recording experiment continued until their exhaustion. We used feature values and regressive slopes and compared the feature changes from the onset to the endurance time to find gender differences. The result of experiments shows that the regressive slope of these features is valid to measure gender differences.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.109-128
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• 2003

This study tested whether repeated measurement of median frequency (MDF)-related variables could express the muscle power changes during a 12-week DeLome strengthening program, by using consecutive overlapping FFT (Fast Fourier transformation) and integrated EMG (IEMG) from surface EMG data for isometric and isotonic exercise. To evaluate the effect of training, the following were recorded every 3 weeks for the elbow flexors and knee extensors of 5 healthy male volunteers: MVC, lRM, limb circumference, and surface EMG during isometric MVC or isotonic contraction at 10RM load. From the EMG data, IEMG and variables from a regression analysis between MDF and time were obtained. MVC, lRM, IEMG, and initial MDF increased linearly over the training period. The fatigue index and slope of the regression line increased temporarily until the 6th week and decreased thereafter. From these results, there appeared to be enhanced neural recruitment of fast twitch fibers in the first 6 weeks and continued enhancement in the recruitment and hypertrophy of fast twitch fibers, which led to increased fatigue resistance, over the last 6 weeks. Accordingly, the MDF and IEMG analysis technique could demonstrate the effect of the program detected significant changes in both isometric and isotonic contractions. EMG analysis methods can be used to estimate the electrophysiological and histological changes in skeletal muscles during a strengthening program.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.17-24
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a combination of isotonic (CI) technique on the balance, muscle fatigue and muscle activities of the quadriceps muscle in the paretic leg of hemiplegic patients. Method: All the subjects received a combined isotonic technique of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) for about 30 minutes 3 times per week for 6 weeks. The root mean square (RMS) and mid frequency (MF) were recorded by surface electromyography (EMG)(EMG/EP system, OXFORD Medelec, UK) during maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC). The balance ability was measured by a balance system (BIODEX, USA). Result: The RMS of the quadriceps muscle at post-treatment was significantly increased compared to that at pretreatment (p<0.05). Yet there was no significant difference among the three muscles. There were no significant difference in the MF of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris between pre- and post-treatment, but the MF of the vastus medialis was significantly decreased (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the vastus medialis and lateralis between pre- and post-treatment (p<0.05). Moreover, the overall stability index at post-treatment was significantly decreased compared to that at pre-treatment (p<0.05). But there was no significant difference between the anterior/posterior and medial/lateral stability indexes. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that a CI technique of PNF had an effect to improve the balance and muscle activity in hemiplegic patients.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2015

Endurance time is very important indicator to estimate muscle fatigue. In the case of measuring endurance time directly, it is dangerous for subject to perform a test until the point of failure to main time force. Therefore, this paper presents the model to estimate endirance time using indirect measurements such as personal factors and anthropometrical data. Previous studies had shown that personal factors such as gender and age were not related to endurance time, but recently studies have shown that it is estimated by using independent variable or predictor such as GTA (Gravitational Torque of the horizontal, stretched arm) and MVC (Maximum Voluntary Contraction). The present study investigated variables to estimate endurance time using personal factors and anthrometrical data during isotonic contractions. Twenty five healthy subject volunteered for this study, and performed three test sessions of isotonic contraction exercises at 10~50% respectively. Afterward the correlation coefficient and p-values were compared among regression models using personal factors and anthropometrical data. The results demonstrated that multi-regression model had significant coefficient of correlation, and was useful estimate endurance time.