Surface Electromyography as a Method for Characterizing Mammogram Discomfort: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study of...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging Physics

Background:

• Mammograms are crucial for early breast cancer detection but often cause patient discomfort, potentially deterring women from screenings.
• Subjective pain reports are variable and lack objective physiological data on patient response during mammography.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a multimuscle surface electromyography (sEMG) methodology for objective assessment of mammogram-related pain and stress.
• To analyze machine-patient dynamics and develop objective measures of physiological strain during mammography.

Main Methods:

• sEMG recorded activity from seven muscle pairs in the neck, shoulders, and torso during mammogram simulations.
• 25 women participated, undergoing 8 compressions with wireless sEMG devices.
• A 10-metric analysis compared muscle activation during compressions to baseline recordings.

Main Results:

• The deltoid muscle showed the highest activation (up to 436% increase), with significant increases also observed in the trapezius, infraspinatus, and teres major (89-155%).
• Muscle activation correlated ipsilaterally with breast compression.
• Patient-reported discomfort in the shoulder and neck aligned with physiological measurements.

Conclusions:

• sEMG methodology provides objective, quantifiable data on patient-machine interaction during mammograms, complementing subjective feedback.
• This approach offers measurable metrics for evaluating mammogram equipment design and protocol improvements.
• Real-time physiological data can enhance understanding of biomechanical responses and patient comfort.