Abstract
By means of biofeedback, neuromotor control can be modified. Recent biofeedback experiments have used the power of the electromyogram of one muscle in different frequency bands to control a two-dimensional cursor. However, the human body usually requires coherent activation of multiple muscles to achieve daily life tasks. Additionally, electromyography (EMG) instrumentation has remained the same for decades, and might not be the most suitable to measure coherent activations from pennated muscles according to recent experiments by von Tscharner and colleagues. In this study, we propose the development of a multichannel current-based EMG amplifier to use intermuscular coherence as the control feature of a visual biofeedback system. The system was used in a leg extension protocol to voluntarily increase intermuscular coherence between the vastii muscles. Results from ten subjects show that it is possible to increase intermuscular coherence through visual biofeedback. Such a system can have applications in endurance training and rehabilitation.
Highlights
Biofeedback can be defined as a process whereby monitoring of a normally automatic bodily function is used to train someone to improve the voluntary control of such function
The coherence using the original amplifier exceeds the significance level across all frequencies whereas that using the new amplifier with the isolation module remains below significance
We developed a visual biofeedback system consisting of an updated version of the current-based EMG amplifier, and developed software for calculating and displaying intermuscular coherence
Summary
Biofeedback can be defined as a process whereby monitoring of a normally automatic bodily function is used to train someone to improve the voluntary control of such function. It is a valuable supplementary treatment and complements rehabilitation protocols to recover healthy muscle function after trauma or musculoeskeletal disease [1]. Neuromotor control is not limited to switching muscles on or off, it includes fine-tuned control to select the right fiber types, and activate them with precise timing. Motor units (MUs) must coordinate and synchronize in such a way that they activate the muscles at the right time, for instance, while running [11]. If a pool of motor neurons within one muscle or across two muscles receives a common input from the central nervous system, the corresponding motor unit
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