1. A non-MVC EMG normalization technique for the trunk musculature: Part 2. Validation and use to predict spinal loads.
- Author
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Marras WS, Davis KG, and Maronitis AB
- Subjects
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Reproducibility of Results, Electromyography, Lumbosacral Region physiology, Muscle Contraction physiology, Muscle, Skeletal physiology, Weight-Bearing physiology
- Abstract
Estimates of the amount of force exerted by a muscle using electromyography (EMG) rely partially upon the accuracy of the reference point used in the normalization technique. Accurate representations of muscle activities are essential for use in EMG-driven spinal loading models. The expected maximum contraction (EMC) normalization method was evaluated to explore whether it could be used to assess individuals who are not capable of performing a maximum exertion such as a person with a low back injury. Hence, this study evaluated the utility of an EMG normalization method (Marras and Davis, A non-MVC EMG normalization technique, Part 1, method development. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 2000) that draws upon sub-maximal exertions to determine the reference points needed for normalization of the muscle activities. The EMC normalization technique was compared to traditional MVC-based EMG normalization by evaluating the spinal loads for 20 subjects (10 males and 10 females) performing dynamic lifts. The spinal loads (estimated via an EMG-assisted model) for the two normalization techniques were very similar with differences being <8%. The model performance variables indicated that both normalization techniques performed well (r(2)>0.9 and average error below 6%) with only the muscle gain being affected by normalization method as a result in different reference points. Based on these results, the proposed normalization technique was considered to be a viable method for EMG normalization and for use in EMG-assisted models. This technique should permit the quantitative evaluation of muscle activity for subjects unable to produce maximum exertions.
- Published
- 2001
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