The evaluation of the muscle fatigue using frequency features in the cervical region

Abstract

Surface electromyography is a method which is for the evaluation of the electrical activity of superficial muscles. Moreover, muscle fatigue can also be detected using surface electromyography. In this study, on 20 volunteers, the muscle fatigue in cervical region was examined using surface electromyogram signals obtained from the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscle. Median frequency, mean frequency and mode frequency values were calculated by Welch method to investigate the muscle fatigue. When the Trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles are gone from study status to fatigue status the frequency parameters have shifted towards low frequencies. In practice, the median and mean frequency values are reliable parameters for muscle fatigue. According to the results; while the muscle fatigue was observed in 27 records for the median frequency, it was occurred in 22 records for the average frequency.