• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2013

Purpose: This study evaluated the validity of measuring paravertebral muscle function with 3D-NEWTON (Hanmed, Korea) by assessing the correlation between Biodex (Biodex, USA) and surface electromyography (EMG). Methods: Nineteen healthy adults participated. The function of their paravertebral muscle was measured in three ways. Maximum endurance time was measured in seconds when 3D-NEWTON was inclined forward for assessing extensor function, and inclined backward for assessing flexor function. Using surface EMG, maximum muscle activity was obtained from the eractor spinae and rectus abdominis during the 3D-NEWTON measurement. Maximum muscle activity was the mean activity from 10 seconds when the root mean squared firing data was highest. Through Biodex the peak torques of the extensor and flexor were measured during isometric exercises. The Spearman correlation coefficiencts from 3D-NEWTON, surface EMG, and Biodex were calculated. Results: The data from surface EMG and Biodex were statistically correlated when measured for flexor function, but less so for extensor function. In the case of 3D-NEWTON, the correlation coefficient with Biodex was 0.50 (p=0.05), while the coefficient with surface EMG was 0.53 (p=0.02) when measured for extensor function. Similarly, the correlation coefficienct with Biodex was 0.60 (p=0.01), while the surface EMG was 0.51 (p=0.03) for flexor function. Conclusion: 3D-NEWTON was a useful method for measuring paravertebral muscle function and can give helpful information for treating people with diseases associated with the lumbar spine.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.1246-1254
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• 2009

The reproducibility of initial value and change over time of surface EMG spike variables(MSA, MSF, MSS, MSD) was investigated in the biceps brachii muscle of 11 healthy subjects. Surface EMG signals were recorded during sustained isometric voluntary contractions for 30 seconds at three contraction levels, 20%, 50%, and 80%MVC, respectively. Each contraction was repeated three times in each of three different days for a total of nine contractions and 99 contractions per %MVC level across the eleven subjects. A total of 297 EMG signals across the different trials, days, subjects, and %MVC levels was saved for the subsequent analysis. The degree of reproducibility was investigated using the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) and the standard error of the mean(SEM) based upon the analysis of variance(ANOVA), Results for intercept showed higher reproducibility of the spike variables with about 60%-98% ICC than the variable(ARV, MNF) which had been analyzed before in other researches. And results for slope showed poor reproducibility of the spike variables with about 30%-70% ICC and they were comparable with the variables of other researches.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.769-776
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• 2007

This paper proposes the human arm motion tracking algorithm based on the signal processing for surface EMG (electromyogram) sensors attached on both upper arm and shoulder. The signals acquired by using surface EMG sensors are processed with choosing the maximum in a short period, taking the absolute value, and filtering noises out with a low-pass filter. The processed signals are directly used for the motion generation of virtual arm in real time simulator. The virtual arm of simulator has two degrees of freedom and complies with the flexion and extension motions of elbow and shoulder. Also, we show the validity of the suggested algorithms through the experiments.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.61-69
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• 2004

EMG is used in rehabilitation research to provide a method to infer muscle function. This paper will present an introduction to interpretation of electromyography (EMG) data for physical therapists. It is important for the physical therapist to have an understanding of the collection and reduction of raw electrical data from the muscle to allow the physical therapist to interpret findings in a research report, and improve planning of clinical research projects with respect to data collection. We will discuss factors that affect the type of EMG collected and the ways in which various common methods of data reduction will impact the findings from a study that uses EMG.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.328-335
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• 2011

For human factor engineering and wearable robot design, the quantitative assessment of physical workload is needed. Through measuring the surface EMG (sEMG) and analysis, the physical workload in overhead lifting posture is presented in quantitative manner. By normalizing sEMG activities with maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), the inter-subject variability is reduced. In all muscles, %MVC increased as the weight of lifting object increases. In anterior deltoid muscle, the %MVC was 3-4 times higher than the other muscles which imply that this muscle performs the major role in the overhead lifting posture. In fatigue analysis, %MVC and the mean frequency in muscle of anterior deltoid changed markedly when compared with other muscles. Through the suggested procedures and analysis, the physical workload for a specific posture can be represented in quantitative way but the clinical meaning for the value should be investigated further.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2008

A method of detecting the specific patterns related to hand motions using the surface EMG(electromyogram) on an arm is proposed and tested. To do this, we obtain separately modeling parameters based on the LP, Prony estimator, and calculate the latency shift value between channels by cross-correlation function. Then, the coefficients and latency shift value are applied to the detection method to classify the EMG signals related to hand motions. Compared with the conventional methods, the present method are more useful to detect the motion intention of the user as an input device in the mobile and wearable computing environments. And, We expect that the results of this study are helpful in the development of rehabilitation devices for the handicapped.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.211-220
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• 2019

Surface electromyogram (sEMG), which is a bio-electrical signal originated from action potentials of nerves and muscle fibers activated by motor neurons, has been widely used for recognizing motion intention of robotic prosthesis for amputees because it enables a device to be operated intuitively by users without any artificial and additional work. In this paper, we propose a training-free unsupervised sEMG pattern recognition algorithm. It is useful for the gesture recognition for the amputees from whom we cannot achieve motion labels for the previous supervised pattern recognition algorithms. Using the proposed algorithm, we can classify the sEMG signals for gesture recognition and the calculated threshold probability value can be used as a sensitivity parameter for pattern registration. The proposed algorithm was verified by a case study of a patient with partial-hand amputation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.258-267
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find out validity of Surface Electromyography(sEMG) compared with Nerve Conduction Study and clinical assessment scale as assessment factors for facial palsy. Methods: We investigated 50 cases of patients with peripheral facial palsy who had records of sEMG and NCS to check. Then we analyzed the correlation between sEMG and NCS that carried out around 1 week after onset. And we analyzed the correlation between sEMG and clinical assessment scales that were measured three times around 1 week, 3-4 weeks and 5-6 weeks after onset. Clinical assessment scales used in this study were House-brackmann grade, Yanagihara unweighted grading scale and Sunnybrook facial grading system. We used Pearson's correlation for statistical analysis. Results: sEMG and NCS, measured at similar times, were statistically correlated. Especially, the correlation with the forehead region was high. And sEMG and clinical assessment scale, measured at same time, were statistically correlated, especially after 5 weeks from onset. Conclusion: According to this study, sEMG is expected to be useful to assessment facial palsy.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to compare visual analogue scale (VAS), pain threshold (PT), $%RMS_{RVC}$, and EMG gaps before and after applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on the upper trapezius muscle at the patients with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). The subjects were 4 men and 10 women composed of both the inpatients and outpatients who were diagnosed as MPS at Wonju Medical Center. VAS and PT measurements were performed to assess the subjective pain level. The reference voluntary contraction (RVC) test was performed for 15 seconds for normalization on the bilateral trapezius muscle using surface electromyography (sEMG). After 3-minute resting time, the EMG signal was recorded while performing a typing activity for 2 minutes and then TENS was applicated with a comfortable intensity for 10 minutes. The EMG activity of the upper trapezius muscle was recorded during typing for 2 minutes. The results of study were as follows: 1) VAS score was significantly decreased on the more painful side after treatment, however, it was not significantly different on the less painful side. 2) PT was increased after treatment on both sides, however, it was not significantly different between before and after the TENS application. 3) The EMG activity during typing was significantly decreased after treatment, and 4) The EMG gaps were significantly increased after TENS treatment compared to before it. Consequently, the study showed that TENS was effective in decreasing VAS, $%RMS_{RVC}$, and in increasing EMG gaps. The EMG gap analysis could be a useful method to measure pain in patients with MPS in the upper trapezius.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate electromyographic (EMG) activity of deep and superficial trunk muscles during trunk stabilization exercises with and without stabilization maneuvers. Methods: The relative muscle activity ratios and local muscle activities of 25 healthy males were measured using the 8 channel surface EMG system (Myosystem 1400A, Noraxon Inc., U.S.A). The surface EMG activities were tested during performing abdominal hollowing maneuver (AHM), abdominal bracing maneuver (ABM) and no stabilization maneuver (NSM) in random order. Data were analyzed using $1{\times}3$ repeated measures ANOVA. Results: During bridging exercises, the EMG activity ratio of transverse abdominis/internal oblique abdominis relative to rectus abdominis was significantly lower in NSM than in AHM and ABM. During bridging and kneeling exercises, the EMG activity ratio of multifidus relative to erector spinae was significantly higher in AHM than in NSM. Conclusion: The AHM can be clinically used by the physical therapist to activate selectively the trunk muscles when designing selective training programs for patients.