Towards the application of HD-EMG decomposition in clinical practice

Abstract

The electromyography (EMG) signal is the summation of traveling motor unit (MU) action potentials that propagate along the fibers from the neuromuscular junction (Innervation Zone, IZ) to the tendons with a certain conduction velocity (CV) (Merletti and Parker, 2005). EMG signals can be detected using either intramuscular or surface electrodes. Intramuscular EMG (iEMG) signals involve the insertion of needles or fine wire electrodes into a muscle (Merletti et al., 2008). Surface EMG (sEMG) signals from the underlying muscles can be detected and unobtrusively on the skin all over the human body and they can be used in modeling movement intentions and in monitoring muscle function during rehabilitation processes (Zwarts and Stegeman, 2003).