Development and Experimental Validation of an Integrated Evaluation Framework for EMS Smartwear Electrodes

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Textile Science

Background:

• Textile-based electrodes are crucial for electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) smartwear.
• A comprehensive evaluation framework integrating physiological and user-centered metrics is needed for EMS electrode development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an integrated evaluation framework for textile-based EMS electrodes.
• To assess the physiological performance and user experience of four different textile electrode types.

Main Methods:

• A systematic five-step evaluation process was employed with nine participants.
• Electromyography (EMG) measured maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and tensiomyography (TMG) assessed muscle contraction velocity.
• User experience surveys evaluated perceived safety, comfort, and breathability.

Main Results:

• The knit electrode significantly reduced MVC (p=0.012), indicating effective neuromuscular activation and fatigue induction.
• The moss stitch electrode showed a trend toward reduced muscle activation (p=0.055) and received high user ratings for safety and comfort.
• Lock stitch and hot stamping electrodes showed negligible physiological changes; hot stamping scored lowest in breathability.

Conclusions:

• The integrated framework provides a balanced assessment of EMS electrode functionality and user experience.
• Design guidance is offered for optimizing textile electrodes for diverse applications, from athletic training to rehabilitation.