Skip to main content
Log in

Relationship between the surface e.m.g. and muscular force

  • Published:
Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Most of the theoretical studies relating the surface electromyogram (s.e.m.g.) to muscular force suggest that the amplitude of the e.m.g. should increase proportionately with the square root of the tension. However, direct experiments have shown a linear relationship. The reasons for this difference are the oversimplified assumptions adopted in the various models. These models assume that all the motor units are the same size. Also, variations in action potential magnitudes and firing frequency have not been taken into account. Recent physiological experiments have contradicted these assumptions and the various parameters have now been mathematically correlated. If these mathematical correlations are incorporated in a model, the linearity between the s.e.m.g. and the muscular force is greatly imporved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Clamann, H. P. (1967) A quantitative analysis of firing pattern of single motor units of skeletal muscle of man and their utilization on isometric contractions. Ph.D. Thesis, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desmedt, J. E. andGodaus, E. (1977) Ballistic contractions in man: characteristic recruitment pattern of single motorunits of the tibialis enterior muscle.J. Physiol.,264, 673–693.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freund, H. J., Budingen, H. J. andDietz, V. (1975) Activity of single motor units from human forearm muscles during voluntary isometric contractions.J. Neurophysiol.,38, 933–946.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimby, L. andHannerz, S. (1977) Firing rate and recruitment order of toe extensor motor units in different modes of voluntary contraction.J. Physiol.,264, 865–879.

    Google Scholar 

  • Libkind, M. S. (1968) Modelling of interference bioelectrical activity II.Biophysics,13, 811–821.

    Google Scholar 

  • Libkind, M. S. (1972) Modelling of interference bioelectrical activity V.,17, 130–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner-Brown, H. S., Stein, R. B. andYemm, R. (1973a) The orderly recruitment of human motor units during voluntary isometric contraction.J. Physiol.,230, 359–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner-Brown, H. S., Stein, R. B. andYemm, R. (1973b) Changes in firing rate of human motor units during linearly changing voluntary contractions.,230, 371–390.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milner-Brown, H. S. andStein, R. B. (1975) The relation between the surface-electromyogram and muscular force.,246, 549–569.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moller, E. (1966) The chewing apparatus.Acta Physiol. Scand.,69, Suppl. 280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Person, R. S. andLibkind, M. S. (1969) Simulation of electromyograms showing interference patterns.Electroencep. & Clin. Neurophysiol.,28, 625–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shwedyk, E., Balasubramanian, R. andScott, R. N. (1977) A non-stationary model for the electromyogram.IEEE Trans.,BME 24, (5).

  • Wilks, S. S. (1962)Mathematical statistics. John Willey & Sons, 256–257.

  • Yemm, R. (1977) The orderly recruitments of motor units of masseter and temporal muscles during voluntary isometric contraction in man.J. Physiol.,265, 163–174.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ray, G.C., Guha, S.K. Relationship between the surface e.m.g. and muscular force. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 21, 579–586 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442383

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02442383

Keywords

Navigation