Feasibility study of detecting surface electromyograms in severely obese patients

Abstract The aims of this study were to examine if surface EMG signals can be detected from the quadriceps femoris muscle of severely obese patients and to investigate if differences exist in quadriceps force and myoelectric manifestations of fatigue between obese patients and lean controls. Fourtee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of electromyography and kinesiology 2013-04, Vol.23 (2), p.285-295
Main Authors: Minetto, Marco A, Botter, Alberto, Šprager, Sebastjan, Agosti, Fiorenza, Patrizi, Alessandra, Lanfranco, Fabio, Sartorio, Alessandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Potentials
Adult
Bioelectric impedance analysis
Electromyography - methods
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Isometric Contraction
Male
Muscle Fatigue
Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
Obesity - physiopathology
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Quadriceps muscle
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Subcutaneous fat layer
Surface EMG
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Summary:Abstract The aims of this study were to examine if surface EMG signals can be detected from the quadriceps femoris muscle of severely obese patients and to investigate if differences exist in quadriceps force and myoelectric manifestations of fatigue between obese patients and lean controls. Fourteen severely obese patients (body mass index, BMI, mean ± SD: 44.9 ± 6.3 kg/m2 ) and fourteen healthy controls (BMI: 23.7 ± 2.5 kg/m2 ) were studied. The vastus medialis and lateralis of the dominant thigh were concurrently investigated during voluntary isometric contractions (10-s long at submaximal and maximal intensities and intermittent submaximal contractions until exhaustion) and sustained (120-s long) electrically elicited contractions. We found that the detection of surface EMG signals from the quadriceps is feasible also in severely obese subjects presenting increased thickness of the subcutaneous fat tissue. In addition, we confirmed and extended previous findings showing that the volume conductor properties determine the amplitude and spectral features of the detected surface EMG signals: the lower the subcutaneous tissue thickness, the higher the amplitude and mean frequency estimates. Further, we found no differences in the mechanical and myoelectric manifestations of fatigue during intermittent voluntary and sustained electrically elicited contractions between obese patients and lean controls.
ISSN:1050-6411
1873-5711
DOI:10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.09.008