Force Myography Shows Higher Correlation to Force Output Compared to ARV EMG Features.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Force myography (FMG) is an emerging technology for muscle activity-based human-machine interfaces.
• FMG offers advantages over surface electromyography (sEMG), including cost-effectiveness, robustness, and non-contact sensing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the hypothesis that FMG signals correlate better with measurable force output than sEMG signals.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a low-cost FMG system for potential use in resource-constrained settings.

Main Methods:

• Isometric finger pressure tasks were performed by healthy subjects.
• Regression analysis was used to compare the predictive power of FMG and sEMG signals for force output.

Main Results:

• FMG signals demonstrated a higher correlation with measured isometric finger pressure compared to sEMG signals.
• The study validated a low-cost FMG system, highlighting its potential for widespread adoption.

Conclusions:

• FMG is a promising modality for accurately predicting limb force output, outperforming sEMG in this regard.
• The developed low-cost, robust FMG system is suitable for controlling assistive wearable robotics and prostheses, especially in resource-limited environments.