Electromyography

In 1666, Francesco Redi, observed that Electric Rays are capable of producing an electric
discharge as a defense mechanism; the discharge may range from 8 to 220 volts, depending
upon the species, and it is generated from a highly specialized muscle. This astute observation
led to the study of electrical impulses originating skeletal muscles.
Now, the evaluation and recording of the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles is
called electromyography.

About the Test
Electromyography is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph, to produce a
record called an electromyogram (EMG).
An electromyograph is a test that is used to record the electrical activity of muscles. When
muscles are active, they produce an electrical current. This current is usually proportional to the
level of the muscle activity. They can be used to detect abnormal electrical activity of muscle
that can occur in many diseases and conditions, including muscular dystrophy, inflammation of
muscles, peripheral nerve damage (damage to nerves in the arms and legs), etc.



Method of Conduction
The skin over the areas to be tested is cleaned. A needle electrode or a needle containing two
fine-wire electrodes is inserted through the skin into the muscle tissue. The trained professional
observes the electrical activity while inserting the electrode. The insertion activity provides
information about the state of the muscle and its originating nerve or nerve bundle. Normal
muscles at rest make certain, normal electrical signals when the needle is inserted into them.
Then the electrical activity when the muscle is at rest is studied. Then the professional asks to
tighten or contract the muscle slowly and steadily, and electrical activity is recorded. The
electrical activity in the muscle is shown as wavy and spiky lines on a video monitor and may
also be heard on a loudspeaker as machine gun-like popping sounds when you contract the
muscle.
The results on the video monitor may be classified into two results:
1. Normal Results
2. Abnormal Results



Normal Results:
Muscle tissue at rest is normally electrically inactive. After the electrical activity caused by the
irritation of needle insertion subsides, the electromyograph should detect no abnormal
spontaneous activity (i.e., a muscle at rest should be electrically silent, with the exception of
the area of the neuromuscular junction, which is, under normal circumstances, very
spontaneously active). When the muscle is voluntarily contracted, action potentials begin to
appear. As the strength of the muscle contraction is increased, more and more muscle fibers
produce action potentials. When the muscle is fully contracted, there should appear a
disorderly group of action potentials of varying rates and amplitudes (a complete recruitment
and interference pattern).

Abnormal Results:
EMG is used to diagnose diseases that generally may be classified into one of the following
categories: neuropathies, neuromuscular junction diseases and myopathies.
Neuropathic disease has the following defining EMG characteristics:
1. Action potential amplitude that is twice normal due to the increased number of fibres per
motor unit because of reinnervation of denervated fibres.
2. An increase in duration of the action potential.
3. A decrease in the number of motor units in the muscle (as found using motor unit number
estimation techniques).
Myopathic disease has these defining EMG characteristics:
1. A decrease in duration of the action potential.
2. A reduction in the area to amplitude ratio of the action potential.
3. A decrease in the number of motor units in the muscle (in extremely severe cases only).

Applications
Outside the field of medicine, electromyography finds many applications. Like, a Wearable
Electromyography-Based Controller which includes a plurality of Electromyography sensors
and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with
computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement
of the user's muscles. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned
by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin.
Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the
Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. Examples of Wearable Electromyography-Based
Controllers include articles of manufacture, such as an armband, wristwatch, or article of
clothing having a plurality of integrated EMG-based sensor nodes and associated electronics.
The Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is a patent owned by Microsoft
Corporation and provides a good insight into the technology of the future.