Power frequency spectrum analysis of surface EMG signals of upper limb muscles during elbow flexion – A comparison between healthy subjects and stroke survivors

• Published in: Journal of electromyography and kinesiology Vol. 38; no. NA; pp. 7 - 16
• Main Authors: Angelova, Silvija, Ribagin, Simeon, Raikova, Rositsa, Veneva, Ivanka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Elbow - physiopathology; Elbow flexion; Elbow Joint - physiopathology; EMG signals; Female; FFT analysis; Humans; Male; Median and mean frequency; Middle Aged; Muscle Contraction; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Power; Range of Motion, Articular; Stroke - physiopathology; Stroke patients; Elbow flexion; Median and mean frequency; FFT analysis; Stroke patients; EMG signals; Power
• ISSN: 1050-6411; 1873-5711; 1873-5711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2017.10.013

After a stroke, motor units stop working properly and large, fast-twitch units are more frequently affected. Their impaired functions can be investigated during dynamic tasks using electromyographic (EMG) signal analysis. The aim of this paper is to investigate changes in the parameters of the power/frequency function during elbow flexion between affected, non-affected, and healthy muscles. Fifteen healthy subjects and ten stroke survivors participated in the experiments. Electromyographic data from 6 muscles of the upper limbs during elbow flexion were filtered and normalized to the amplitudes of EMG signals during maximal isometric tasks. The moments when motion started and when the flexion angle reached its maximal value were found. Equal intervals of 0.3407 s were defined between these two moments and one additional interval before the start of the flexion (first one) was supplemented. For each of these intervals the power/frequency function of EMG signals was calculated. The mean (MNF) and median frequencies (MDF), the maximal power (MPw) and the area under the power function (APw) were calculated. MNF was always higher than MDF. A significant decrease in these frequencies was found in only three post-stroke survivors. The frequencies in the first time interval were nearly always the highest among all intervals. The maximal power was nearly zero during first time interval and increased during the next ones. The largest values of MPw and APw were found for the flexor muscles and they increased for the muscles of the affected arm compared to the non-affected one of stroke survivors.