Prediction of muscle force patterns in elbow flexion/extension and comparison with electromyography

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of the musculotendon actuators in human elbow flexion/extension. For this study, two experiments were conducted using video analysis and a third using electrogoniometer analysis. The video and electrogoniometer records of arm movements were analyzed and converted into kinematic data which were then used to calculate the net elbow joint torque. The methodology used in the experiments to study muscle contribution to flexion/extension at the elbow joint is discussed and the results of the experiments are presented. These torques were then partitioned among the muscles studied by assuming equal muscle stress across all muscles. Physiologic cross-Sectional Area (PSA) was used in calculating the stress in each muscle, therefore yielding individual muscle force patterns from the net joint torque. Predicted individual muscle force patterns were evaluated and compared to the integrated electromyogram (EMG) signals of each respective muscle by using a qualitative similarity analysis. In general, the results showed good qualitative profile correlation between the muscle force patterns predicted and the respective integrated EMG