Electromyography Techniques for Motion Analysis

Dear Colleagues,

In biomedical sciences, sports biomechanics and other areas related to health sciences, electromyography (EMG) allows, among other things, for appropriate movement patterns to be differentiated from those that are not, for muscle fatigue to be assessed or for biofeedback techniques to be applied to correct inadequate postural behaviors or anomalous electromyographic patterns (e.g., parasitic movements, hypo- and hyperactivity, miscoordination between agonist and antagonist musculature in ballistic action, limited co-contraction, etc.). EMG is becoming increasingly portable, less expensive and easier to use, the latter thanks to the development of specific software and even mobile apps that implement the algorithms and filters needed to process electromyographic recordings, without the need for extensive knowledge of signal analysis. This easy access has led to an almost exponential increase in the number of publications on this topic from the 1980s to the present day, as can be deduced from a simple search in PubMed (the number of results per year has increased from 860 to just over 3000 between these years). One of the most relevant utilities of EMG is the evaluation of human motion, with a focus on health or performance, in isolation or combined with data from other motion analysis systems, such as inertial sensors, dynamometry or photogrammetry. This Special Issue focuses mainly on the study of posture, basic motor skills and sports actions using EMG techniques, with a focus on health or performance.

This Special Issue will comprise original research articles, systematic or narrative reviews and clinical applications of EMG, provided through case reports or cohort studies. Topics of interest include, among others, the following:

- EMG sports analysis combined with motion capture systems (photogrammetric or inertial-sensor-based) or force dynamometers (force platforms, encoders, isokinetic machines, etc.).

- Validation and precision of EMG sensors, and comparison of filters and algorithms.

- Convergent validity studies between electromyographic muscle activity and other muscle activity assessment systems, such as dynamometric strength measurement or ultrasound muscle thickness.

- Development of EMG computational techniques and biomechanical calculation software.

- Use of biofeedback techniques for the re-education of inefficient movement patterns.

- Use of EMG for the assessment of muscle fatigue in basic motor skills (e.g., locomotion) or during sport actions.

- Assessment of muscle activity patterns in sport-specific movements.

- Use of EMG in muscle rehabilitation as an evaluation technique aimed at assessing the improvement of muscle involvement in injured muscle groups after an intervention.

- Assessment of asymmetries in specific sport movements or basic skills.

- Use of EMG for the prevention of and reduction in the effects of musculoskeletal disorders and/or the development of musculoskeletal diseases.

- Any other topic in which the EMG signal is evaluated, with the aim of assessing human movement while focused on health or performance.

Prof. Dr. Gabriel Delgado-Garcia
Prof. Dr. Naiquan (Nigel) Zheng
Prof. Dr. Alejandro Molina-Molina
Guest Editors

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