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Model of the electromyographic activity during brief isometric contractions

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Abstract

EMG's of short isometric contractions are analysed. Mathematical expressions are derived for the average EMG and for the variance of the EMG. The result shows that by deconvolution methods a distribution of motor unit onset time during contraction can be obtained once the mean motor unit potential is known. A further result of the analysis is the fact that by simulation methods a statistic can be derived to estimate the mean number of active motor units “covered” by the electrodes. The fact that highly variable EMG's go along with very accurately timed movements is shortly discussed.

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Meijers, L.M.M., Teulings, J.L.H.M. & Eijkman, E.G.J. Model of the electromyographic activity during brief isometric contractions. Biol. Cybernetics 25, 7–16 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00337044

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