Winter School on sEMG Signal Processing: An Initiative to Reduce Educational Gaps and to Promote the Engagement of Physiotherapists and Movement Scientists With Science

Abstract

The application of surface electromyography (sEMG) in neurology is sometimes limited by a scientific background in the use of sEMG. Students frequently use sEMG only when developing their graduate studies. To reduce these barriers, we promoted a free Winter School on sEMG to Latin American students. The school was a 3-day event with theoretical classes and computer programming in Matlab. Lectures were delivered in Portuguese and Spanish to 50 participants. All lectures were recorded and made available on YouTube ®. After the School, participants completed a written exam to receive a certificate. The written exam revealed the average effectiveness of 71 ± 20% in the comprehension of topics addressed during the school. Participants rated the School as "excellent" and considered the event as having changed their thoughts about the use of sEMG. Limited mathematical skills or background were the main barriers identified to follow the lectures and to make use of sEMG. We conclude that the Winter School had a positive impact on participant's formation, especially by showing them the importance of continuous involvement with the concepts related to sEMG to become proficient in its use. From the participant's point of view, the activity was excellent and the follow up of the school on YouTube ® suggests that combining face-to-face activities followed by the online availability of lectures is a valid strategy to reinforce the learning process and to reduce barriers in the use of sEMG. Whether similar results would be achieved for a paid registration event in an economically developing region, still requires further investigation.

Analysis and Biophysics of Surface EMG for Physiotherapists and Kinesiologists: Toward a Common Language With Rehabilitation Engineers

“…More advanced signal analysis could be then be covered in postgraduate or elective modules. Combining sEMG theory with practical classes in basic computer programming (in addition to providing code and lectures online to support the material covered) is an effective way to teach sEMG concepts to physiotherapists, break down its perceived complexity, and encourage them to incorporate sEMG as a measurement tool in their practice (93).…”

Programming course for health science as a strategy to engage students during the coronavirus pandemic

“…However, we are unable to establish whether the feeling of satisfaction relied on the experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, that is, the comfortable sensation of doing something while many students stopped all academic activities. More than two-thirds of the participants considered they felt good and had a greater understanding of programming after the outreach course, despite the barriers that programming imposed on health care students ( 10 ).…”

“…In the beginning, participants stated that they could not write a program routine alone, but at the end of the course, most of them felt they could do it. This is an achievement, as programming courses are difficult to conduct even in a face-to-face configuration ( 10 ). In assuming this activity could be a fully online outreach activity, the organizers welcomed these outcomes.…”

“…These skills provide the possibility to further explore databases, which can be an alternative option to adapt research projects, the experimental phases of which had stopped in 2020. However, programming is considered a difficult task for both undergraduate and graduate students in Brazil ( 10 ). Programming is not part of regular graduate and postgraduate studies in areas such as health sciences.…”

Barriers to sEMG Assessment During Overground Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Subacute Stroke Patients

“…An alternative solution could be the introduction of a new figure (i.e., the Clinical Technologist) as a healthcare professional who has the expertise to translate medical technology use into improved patient-specific procedures (45). However, in our opinion, the competence of rehabilitation professionals in the use of new technologies (i.e., sEMG) should be increased with the diffusion of specific training courses [like the one described by De la Fuente et al (46)].…”