Abstract
Objective: To observe and analyse the literature on the use of surface electromyography electrodes, including the shape, size, and metal composition of the electrodes used, the interelectrode distance, and the anatomical locations on the muscle at which the electrodes are placed, for the observation of the triceps brachii muscle activity in patients and athletes.Methods: We searched the ScienceDirect and SpringerLink online databases for articles published in the English language during the last six years (between January 2008 and December 2013). We specifically searched for the keywords “EMG” and “triceps brachii” in the full text of each of the articles. The inclusion criteria were articles on the use of surface electromyography electrodes to observe the activity of the triceps brachii muscle in patients and athletes.Results: In the 23 selected articles, the activities of the triceps brachii muscle in a total of 402 subjects were measured using surface electromyography electrodes: 262 subjects in the studies that focused on the rehabilitation of patients with various disorders, and 140 subjects in the studies that focused on the sports performance of various athletes. To record the surface electromyography activity of the triceps brachii muscle, the electrodes were placed over the muscle belly or the three heads (lateral, long, and medial) of the triceps brachii muscle with diverse interelectrode distances. Seventeen studies used bipolar or triode silver/silver chloride electrodes, one study utilised bipolar gold electrodes, one study applied bipolar polycarbonate electrodes, one study used a linear array of four silver bar electrodes, one study utilised DELSYS parallel bar nickel silver electrodes, and two studies did not clearly mention the composition of the electrodes used.Conclusions: Bipolar silver/silver chloride circular-shaped electrodes are utilised more frequently than electrodes with a different metal composition and shape. The anatomical locations of the triceps brachii muscle that mainly considered for electrode placement are the lateral, long, and medial heads. A 10-mm electrode size is commonly used to measure the sEMG activity more efficiently. However, we found that an electrode size of up to 40 mm may be used to reliably measure the sEMG activity on the triceps brachii muscle. A 20-mm interelectrode distance is commonly used to measure the sEMG activity using the above mentioned muscle locations and silver/silver chloride electrodes. We also identified others factors that should be taken into account for the use of the sEMG recording technique on the triceps brachii under real-time conditions.
Highlights
Electromyography (EMG) is a technique that is commonly used to examine the activity of human muscles during different motor tasks [1]
Based on the available evidence on the use of surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes to measure the activity of upper limb muscles, we found that the activation of the upper limb muscles can increase the muscle activity during a rhythmic motor task [7]
To determine which articles to include in this study, we considered only those articles that were written in English and that used patient or athlete subjects for the recording of the sEMG signal on the triceps brachii muscle (TB)
Summary
Electromyography (EMG) is a technique that is commonly used to examine the activity of human muscles during different motor tasks [1]. This technique involves the recording of the electrical activity produced in the muscle and is a useful tool to obtain information on the intensity and time structure of the neuromuscular impulses received by the muscle from the central nervous system [2]. SEMG electrodes are currently most commonly used to measure muscle activity because these non-invasive electrodes can be placed over the skin, which results in the detection of a general motor unit action potential or a spatial characterisation of the electric potential distribution [6]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.