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Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research

Includes abstract.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Albertus, Yumna
Other Authors: Lambert, Mike
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Human Biology 2014
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access_status_str Open Access
author Albertus, Yumna
author2 Lambert, Mike
author_browse Albertus, Yumna
Lambert, Mike
author_facet Lambert, Mike
Albertus, Yumna
author_sort Albertus, Yumna
collection Thesis
description Includes abstract.
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3221
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:32:45.765Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Department of Human Biology
publisherStr Department of Human Biology
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/3221 Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research Albertus, Yumna Lambert, Mike Derman, Wayne Tucker, Ross Noakes, Tim Human Biology Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 185-201). Measurements of muscle activity derived from surface EMG electrodes are variable due to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The intrinsic factors are endogenous in nature (features within the body) and include muscle fiber type, muscle fiber diameter and length, the amount of tissue between muscle and electrode, and depth and location of muscle with respect to the placement of electrodes (24). These biological factors vary between subjects and cannot be controlled. The extrinsic factors are experimental variables which are influenced by the researcher and can be controlled to some extent. Examples of extrinsic factors include the location, area, orientation, shape of electrodes and the distance between electrodes (interelectrode distance). In order to measure biological variation in the EMG signal, which is important in studies where surface EMG is used to gain understanding of physiological regulation, it is important to minimise the variation caused by these factors. This is in part achieved through the appropriate method of normalisation. The isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) has been used as a standardmethod of normalisation for both static and dynamic exercises. However, researchers have recently improved the methods of normalisation by developing alternative techniques for the measurement of EMG during dynamic activities. By using the same type of movement for normalisation as during the trial, experimental errors can be reduced. The appropriate method of normalisation is defined as a method that is capable of showing repeatability, reliability (low intra-subject variation) and sensitivity to changes in EMG amplitude that is due to biological change and not the contribution of experimental factors. The aim of this thesis was to critically analyse alternative methods of EMG normalisation during dynamic exercise. The data should provide possible guidelines to researchers who are planning studies involving measurement of EMG activity during cycling, running and in clinical populations. Furthermore, the thesis aimed to illustrate that decisions regarding the most appropriate method of normalisation should be based on the study design, research question (absolute muscle activity or changes in muscle pattern) and the muscles being investigated. 2014-07-28T18:15:58Z 2014-07-28T18:15:58Z 2008 Doctoral Thesis Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3221 eng application/pdf Department of Human Biology Faculty of Health Sciences University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Human Biology
Albertus, Yumna
Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research
thesis_degree_str Doctoral
title Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research
title_full Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research
title_fullStr Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research
title_full_unstemmed Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research
title_short Critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data : from laboratory to clinical research
title_sort critical analysis of techniques for normalising electromyographic data from laboratory to clinical research
topic Human Biology
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3221
work_keys_str_mv AT albertusyumna criticalanalysisoftechniquesfornormalisingelectromyographicdatafromlaboratorytoclinicalresearch