Tutorial. Frequency analysis of the surface EMG signal: Best practices

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a valuable tool for muscle and neuromuscular evaluations.
• Non-engineers often require accessible explanations of sEMG signal processing.
• Applications in prevention and rehabilitation fields necessitate understanding sEMG data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a tutorial on basic sEMG signal analysis concepts for non-engineers.
• To explain time and frequency domain signal descriptions with minimal mathematics.
• To cover essential topics including Fourier transforms, filtering, and muscle fatigue analysis.

Main Methods:

• Explanation of fundamental signal processing concepts.
• Discussion of time and frequency domain analysis.
• Illustrative examples from scientific literature.

Main Results:

• Consolidated knowledge on sEMG signal characteristics.
• Understanding of signal processing techniques like Fourier transform and filtering.
• Insights into myoelectric manifestations of muscle fatigue and fatigue indices.

Conclusions:

• This tutorial equips non-engineers with foundational knowledge for sEMG analysis.
• It facilitates the use of sEMG in clinical research, rehabilitation, and sports science.
• The content supports accurate muscle and neuromuscular assessments using sEMG data.