FUNCTIONAL EMG

Functional electromyography (EMG) is a tool which enables the activity of a muscle to be recorded. Measurements are taken via surface electrodes, which are placed over the skin of a muscle. With active contraction of the muscle, the EMG is able to detect this level of activity, providing auditory and visual feedback.

This assessment can then be used as a way to monitor the progress of a muscle’s ability to contract. EMG can also be used during treatment to train muscles to either activate during exercises and functional tasks.

Typical muscles that the EMG can help train includes increasing the activation of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle- one of the quadriceps muscle which commonly deactivates with knee pain. Retraining the upper trapezius muscle to deactivate through the use of the functional EMG is a way to improve neck and shoulder pain, commonly associated with the overactivity of this muscle.

A very new application of the EMG is via the ViMove system which places 4 wireless movement and muscle sensors on the lower back to measure both range of motion and muscle activation of the region. More information can be found here. We also can apply the EMG to various muscles in the lower leg to look for timing patterns or abnormalities during walking or running. These patterns of activation are synced in with the force data of the FDT (Force Distribution Treadmill).