Wireless on-line electromyography in recording neck muscle function: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The surface electromyography (SEMG) records muscle activity without causing pain and therefore it can be used in the on-line kinetic evaluation of rehabilitation methods. The cables are a problem in the clinical work. The aim of this pilot study was to introduce a wireless on-line SEMG method in the measurements of neck muscle activity and preliminarily evaluate its usability in dynamic exercises in a healthy and a neck pain subject.


METHODS
The bilateral wireless on-line SEMG measurements were performed at the level C4-C5 of the cervical spine. The subjects (one healthy 32-year-old female and one neck pain patient, 35-year-old female) were performing slow cervical flexions with eyes open. The angle of the flexion was measured with inclinometer.


RESULTS
In healthy subjects, the SEMG curve demonstrated clear flexion-relaxation rhythm whereas in the patient the rhythm was blurred. The SEMG signal quality was, however, good in both cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Wireless on-line SEMG method seems promising in daily clinical work for the measurements of neck muscle activity.
Airaksinen
Minna K
MK
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, 70200 Kuopio, Finland. mkairaks@hytti.uku.fi
Kankaanpää
Markku
M
Aranko
Olli
O
Leinonen
Ville
V
Arokoski
Jari P A
JP
Airaksinen
Olavi
O