Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Confounding factors in water EMG recordings: an approach to a definitive standard

  • TECHNICAL NOTE
  • Published:
Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work presents a study on the influence of the aqueous environment on the surface EMG (sEMG) signal recorded in bipolar montage from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle, when only the forearm is immersed in water. Ten men, 30.1±4.0 (mean ± SD) years old, performed ten 2-s 40% MVC isometric contractions of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle in two controlled environments (air and water, at a temperature of 32°C). They were always equipped with electrodes protected with a waterproof adhesive tape. No significant variations (paired Wilcoxon test) due to the environments were observed in the median frequency of the power spectrum (MDF) and in the root mean square (RMS) value of the sEMG signal. These results allow us to assess the methodological criteria to properly record sEMG signals in water and provide the basis to explain different findings obtained by other authors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Clarys JP, Robeaux R, Delbeke G (1985) Telemetrical versus conventional EMG in air and water. In: Winter NR. Hayes R Patla A (eds) Biomechanics, vol IX. Human kinetics, Champaign, pp 286–294

  2. Dewhurst S, Riches P, Nimmo M, De Vito G (2005) Temperature dependence of soleus H-reflex and M wave in young and older women. Eur J Appl Physiol 94(5–6):491–499

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Fujisawa H, Suenaga A, Minami A (1998) Electromyographic study during isometric exercise of the shoulder in head-out water immersion. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 7(5):491–494

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kelly BT, Roskin LA, Kirkendall DT, Speer KP (2000) Shoulder muscle activation during aquatic and dry land exercises in nonimpaired subjects. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 30(4):204–210

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Merletti R, Sabbahi MA, de Luca CJ (1984) Median frequency of the myoelectric signal. Effects of muscle ischemia and cooling. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 3:258–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Merletti R, Rainoldi A, Farina D (2001) Surface EMG for non-invasive muscle characterization. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 29(1):20–25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Poyhonen T, Keskinen KL, Hautala A, Savolainen J, Malkia EA (1999) Human isometric force production and electromyogram activity of knee extensor muscle in water and on dry land. Eur J Appl Physiol 80:52–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Poyhonen KL, Keskinen H, Kyrolainen A, Hautala J, Savolainen, Malkia EA (2001) Neuromuscular function during therapeutic knee exercise under water and on dry land. Arch Phys Med Rehab 82:1446–1452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rainoldi A, Cescon C, Bottin A, Casale R, Caruso I (2004) Surface EMG alterations induced by underwater recording. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 14:325–331

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development of Brazil (CNPq), under Grant 308138/2003–1, and by Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), under grant 2160-04-8. The authors wish to thank Professor R. Merletti PhD (Politecnico di Torino, Italy) for many useful discussions and his criticism in preparing the final version of this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

    W. H. Veneziano, A. F. da Rocha, A. G. Pena & F. A. O. Nascimento

  2. School of Physical Education, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

    J. C. Carmo

  3. Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

    C. A. Gonçalves

  4. Department of Electronics, UTFPR, Pato Branco, Brazil

    W. H. Veneziano

  5. LISiN, Department of Electronics, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Turin, Italy

    A. Rainoldi

Authors
  1. W. H. Veneziano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. F. da Rocha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. A. Gonçalves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. G. Pena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. C. Carmo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. F. A. O. Nascimento
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. A. Rainoldi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Rainoldi.

Additional information

During part of the development of this work, W. H. Veneziano and A. F. Rocha were with LISiN.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Veneziano, W.H., da Rocha, A.F., Gonçalves, C.A. et al. Confounding factors in water EMG recordings: an approach to a definitive standard. Med Bio Eng Comput 44, 348–351 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-006-0039-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-006-0039-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation