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Assessment of time patterns of activity and rest in full-shift recordings of trapezius muscle activity - Effects of the data processing procedure

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Author

  • Kaj Bo Veiersted
  • Mikael Forsman
  • Gert-Åke Hansson
  • Svend Erik Mathiassen

Summary, in English

The purpose of this paper was to compare the effects of different data reduction procedures on the values of variables characterizing the time pattern of trapezius muscle activity during full work shifts. Surface electromyography (EMG) of the right and left upper trapezius muscles were obtained from 40 young subjects in different occupations, mainly electricians, hairdressers and students. The target EMG variables were gap frequency, muscle rest, and the number and duration of episodes with sustained muscle activity (from 0.13 s to 30 min as minimum duration). These variables were derived from the EMG recordings using different Root Mean Square (RMS) windows (from 0.13 to 6.38 s), and discrimination levels between "activity" and "rest" (0.5%, 1% and 2% of maximal EMG). The results give basis for practical suggestions for EMG analyses of full work shifts. For most variables, a discrimination level of 0.5% EMG(max) showed to be preferable. The time proportion of muscle rest and sustained muscle activity should, in general, be preferred over the corresponding frequency measures. Sustained muscle activity should be calculated using a RMS window between 1 and 3 s, and preferably be stated in terms of variables describing time proportions of activity. Uninterrupted activity episodes longer than 10 min proved not to be a useful variable due to limited occurrence in many work shifts. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publishing year

2013

Language

English

Pages

540-547

Publication/Series

Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology

Volume

23

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Environmental Health and Occupational Health

Keywords

  • Electromyography
  • Muscle activity
  • Data processing
  • Exposure
  • Time
  • variation

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1873-5711