Generation of synthetic surface electromyography signals under fatigue conditions for varying force inputs using feedback control algorithm

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine Vol. 231; no. 11; p. 1025
• Main Authors: Venugopal, G, Deepak, P, Ghosh, Diptasree M, Ramakrishnan, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Algorithms; Electromyography; Feedback, Physiological; Models, Biological; Muscle Contraction; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Surface Properties; motor unit; feedback control algorithm; Synthetic surface electromyography; muscle fatigue; proportional–integral–derivative controllers; isometric force
• ISSN: 2041-3033
• DOI: 10.1177/0954411917727307

Surface electromyography is a non-invasive technique used for recording the electrical activity of neuromuscular systems. These signals are random, complex and multi-component. There are several techniques to extract information about the force exerted by muscles during any activity. This work attempts to generate surface electromyography signals for various magnitudes of force under isometric non-fatigue and fatigue conditions using a feedback model. The model is based on existing current distribution, volume conductor relations, the feedback control algorithm for rate coding and generation of firing pattern. The result shows that synthetic surface electromyography signals are highly complex in both non-fatigue and fatigue conditions. Furthermore, surface electromyography signals have higher amplitude and lower frequency under fatigue condition. This model can be used to study the influence of various signal parameters under fatigue and non-fatigue conditions.