Advances in EMG measurement techniques, analysis procedures, and the impact of muscle mechanics on future requirements for the methodology

Muscular coordination enables locomotion and interaction with the environment. For more than 50 years electromyography (EMG) has provided insights into the central nervous system control of individual muscles or muscle groups, enabling both fine and gross motor functions. This information is available either at individual motor units (Mus) level or on a more global level from the coordination of different muscles or muscle groups. In particular, non-invasive EMG methods such as surface EMG (sEMG) or, more recently, spatial mapping methods (High-Density EMG - HDsEMG) have found their place in research into biomechanics, sport and exercise, ergonomics, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and increasingly for the control of technical devices. With further technical advances and a growing understanding of the relationship between EMG and movement task execution, it is expected that with time, especially non-invasive EMG methods will become increasingly important in movement sciences. However, while the total number of publications per year on non-invasive EMG methods is growing exponentially, the number of publications on this topic in journals with a scope in movement sciences has stagnated in the last decade. This review paper contextualizes non-invasive EMG development over the last 50 years, highlighting methodological progress. Changes in research topics related to non-invasive EMG were identified. Today non-invasive EMG procedures are increasingly used to control technical devices, where muscle mechanics have a minor influence. In movement science, however, the effect of muscle mechanics on the EMG signal cannot be neglected. This explains why non-invasive EMG's relevance in movement sciences has not developed as expected.

Automated summary

Muscular coordination is crucial for movement and interaction with the environment. Electromyography (EMG) has been used for over 50 years to study the control of individual muscles or muscle groups by the central nervous system, providing insights into both fine and gross motor functions. Non-invasive EMG methods, such as surface EMG (sEMG) and High-Density EMG (HDsEMG), have found applications in various fields, including biomechanics, sports and exercise, ergonomics, rehabilitation, diagnostics, and device control. However, despite the exponential growth in the number of publications on non-invasive EMG methods, the relevance of EMG in movement sciences has not developed as expected, possibly due to the neglect of muscle mechanics in movement science research.