Non-invasive technique used to measure muscle activity (both voluntary and involuntary) in individuals with neuromuscular conditions using surface electrodes.
Clinical Considerations
sEMG provides quantifiable and objective measures of muscle activity and is less invasive than needle EMG. In general, EMGs are associated with high costs of administration and interpretation.
ICF Domain
Body Function ▶ Neuromusculoskeletal & Movement-related Functions and Structures
Administration
Surface electrodes are placed on the skin overlying the muscles of interest.
Number of Items
N/A
Equipment
- Surface electrodes
- Monitoring equipment
Scoring
N/A
Languages
N/A
Training Required
Special training is mandatory to conduct and interpret the results.
Availability
Refer to protocols in the following article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15672098
# of studies reporting psychometric properties: 5
Interpretability
MCID: not established
SEM: not established
MDC: not established
Reliability – High
- High Test-retest Reliability:
Voluntary response index magnitude: ICC = 0.93
Voluntary response similarity index: ICC = 0.83
(One week interval; Lim & Sherwood 2005; n=69, 65 male, 4 females; incomplete SCI; and mean (SD) time since injury: 54.8 (3.6) months)
- High Reliability:
Tibialis anterior: ICC > 0.94
Soleus: ICC > 0.86
(Silverman et al. 2021; n=4 with cervical incomplete SCI [3 males, 1 female; mean age: 46.75 years]); and n=9 healthy uninjured participants [7 males, 2 females; mean age 32.3 years])
Validity – Moderate to High
- Moderate to High correlation (r-values) with Manual Muscle Testing (MMT):
- Biceps: 0.56/0.40
- Triceps: 0.77/0.70
- Extensor carpi radialis: 0.64/0.64
- Abductor digiti minimi: 0.49/0.67
- Psoas: 0.47/0.77
- Quadriceps: 0.54/0.61
- Tibialis anterior: 0.57/0.78
- Soleus: 0.28/0.59
(Calancie et al. 2001; n=45; 34 cervical injury level; < 1week post-injury)
- High correlation (Spearman coefficients) with torque measurements:
Tibialis anterior: ρ = 0.86-0.95
Soleus: ρ = 0.86-0.95
(Silverman et al. 2021; n=4 with cervical incomplete SCI [3 males, 1 female; mean age: 46.75 years]); and n=9 healthy uninjured participants [7 males, 2 females; mean age 32.3 years])
Responsiveness
No values were reported for the responsiveness of the sEMG for the SCI population.
Floor/Ceiling Effect
No values were reported for the presence of floor/ceiling effects in the sEMG for the SCI population.
Reviewers
Dr. Janice Eng, Dr. Carlos L. Cano-Herrera, Elsa Sun
Date Last Updated
31 December 2024
Calancie B, Molano MR, Broton JG, Bean JA, Alexeeva N. Relationship between EMG and muscle force after spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med 2001;24:19-25.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11587429
Lim CL, Clouston P, Sheean G, Yiannikas C. The influence of voluntary EMG activity and click intensity on the vestibular click evoked myogenic potential. Muscle & Nerve, 2004; 18 (10): 1210-1213.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7659119
Lim HK, Lee DC, McKay WB, Priebe MM, Holmes SA, Sherwood AM. Neurophysiological assessment of lower-limb voluntary control in incomplete spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2005;43:283-290.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15672098
Lim HK, Sherwood AM. Reliability of surface electromyographic measurements from subjects with spinal cord injury during voluntary motor tasks. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development 2005;42:413-421.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16320138
Matheson DW, Toben TP, de la Cruz DE. EMG scanning: normative data. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 1988; 10(1):9-20. doi: 10.1007/BF00962981
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00962981
Pullman SL, Goodin DS, Marquinez AI, Tabbal S, Rubin M. Clinical utility of surface EMG: report of the therapeutics and technology assessment subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 2000;55:171-177.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10908886
Spinal Cord–Injured ParticipantsSilverman JD, Balbinot G, Masani K, Zariffa J, Eng P. Validity and Reliability of Surface Electromyography Features in Lower Extremity Muscle Contraction in Healthy and Spinal Cord-Injured Participants. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2021. 27(4):14-27
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34866885/
