Surface electromyography: proposal of a protocol for cervical muscles

Abstract

Purpose: to present a proposal of a surface electromyography evaluation method for cervical muscles specific and detailed protocol, with a standardized collection method of electrical signal in these muscles. Method: the researchers took as reference the existing publications about this subject which evidenced a need for standardization, clarity, better reproducibility and greater specificity for the surface electromyography evaluation of the upper trapezium and sternocleidomastoid muscles fibers. The proposal preparation process for the current protocol included the cleaning of the target area, placing the electrodes, required tasks in order to collect and register the electrical signal and interpretation of the electromyography signal parameters. This evaluation method was carried out in 24 healthy volunteers of both genders, with an average age of 26 years. We used the electromyography Miotool 400 with 4 channels. Result: an evaluation surface electromyography method for upper trapezium and sternocleidomastoid muscles fibers was developed and tested in order to determine the best form of electrical signal data collection for these muscles. Conclusion: we submitted a protocol proposal to evaluate the cervical muscles by a surface electromyography, allowing the healthy professionals and researchers to get more information about this electrical potential evaluation method for the sternocleidomastoid and the upper trapezium muscles fibers. This knowledge will be an adjuvant in a more specific therapy.

Chewing preference and its relationship with postural muscular electric potential

“…The protocol of electromyographic evaluation of the postural muscles was adapted from studies of Moraes et al 12,13 . Before placing the surface electrodes, the skin was cleaned with cotton and 70% ethyl alcohol, in order to reduce impedance [12][13][14] . All electrodes had conductive gel.…”

“…The reference electrode was placed over the lateral epicondyle of the right humerus, in order to eliminate some interferences in the electric signal 12,13 . Distance between electrodes was settled at 1.5cm for the studied muscle group [12][13][14] .…”

“…Electrodes were fixed in the middle point of the venter of each sternocleidomastoid muscle, longitudinally regarding their fibers 12,13,15 , four centimeters below the mastoid process, in order to avoid that fibers of the platysma muscle could create interferences 16 .…”

Incomplete Swallowing and Retracted Tongue Maneuvers for Electromyographic Signal Normalization of the Extrinsic Muscles of the Larynx

“…There are several possibilities of normalization signal, by the maximum peak of the EA as well as by the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), referential demanding the measurement of determined applied load, such as resistance of the studied muscle. [7][8][9] Electromyography (EMG) normalization signal by MVIC has been vastly discussed and referred as the most adequate one, taking the value of referred sustained contraction as the EA maximum percentage of the muscle or muscular group to be studied on each subject. It allows the comparison between the value found in the MVIC and the percentages acquired with performed tasks.…”

“…The MVSA can be defined as the muscular contraction generated when the subject recruits, voluntarily, an expressive number of the SH and IH fiber muscles, during a determined period of time in isometric tasks. 9 This is an adaptation of the concept of maximum voluntary resisted activity proposed by Moraes et al 9 The purpose of this study was to investigate which muscular movements provided larger SH and IH muscles EA that could be used as MVSA reference for SEMG signal normalization.…”