Quantitative analysis of paraspinal muscle strain during cervical traction using wireless EMG sensor

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of cervical traction on the basis of fatigue analysis using wireless EMG sensor. Neck pain is a regular health-related complaint, leading to paraspinal muscle spasm and radiculopathy. The patients having neck pain complaint were visiting therapy unit regularly for cervical traction treatment. This case study includes EMG data recording of 12 neck pain patients using wireless EMG sensor. The patients were divided into two groups having radiculopathy with paraspinal muscle spasm and without radiculopathy but paraspinal muscle spasm. The subjects were treated with 15 minutes of cervical traction with a 7 kg strain. The extracted various features in the time domain and frequency domain from the acquired EMG data to assess the muscle fatigue during cervical traction treatment. Features were calculated to evaluate the muscle fatigue during cervical traction in sitting position. Analysis of various parameters indicated significant differences in the paraspinal muscle activities. The results indicate the effectiveness of continuous traction treatment in the reduction of neck pain.