Electromyography

The study will compare cognitive capacity, muscle utilization patterns, soft tissue seated pressure and caloric output during four seated conditions: 1. passive sitting in a regular chair; 2. passive sitting in an exercise chair; 3. sitting in the exercise chair during active dynamic exercise; and, 4. sitting in the chair during active static exercise.

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether surface electrodes can record physiological muscle activity as accurately as the gold-standard needle electrodes in the tibialis anterior muscle using a diagnostic EMG device The aim of this pilot study is to investigate whether muscle activation data, similar to surface electromyography (SEMG), can be obtained by adjusting the measurement and recording parameters of standard Electroneuromyography (EMG) devices used routinely for diagnostic purposes. Although SEMG is considered the gold standard for the objective assessment of muscle activation, its clinical use in our country is limited due to the high cost of specialized hardware and software. In contrast, diagnostic EMG devices are widely available in many healthcare institutions. The research will be conducted on 30 healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 60. Participants will undergo lower extremity nerve conduction studies, reflex response measurements, and muscle activation assessments during voluntary isometric contractions of the m. tibialis anterior. Muscle activation will be recorded using the diagnostic EMG device via surface (adhesive and Ag/AgCl coated) electrodes and needle electrodes. The acquired EMG signals will be analyzed in terms of RMS (Root Mean Square), amplitude, and frequency parameters. The procedures performed within the scope of this study are standard practices carried out during routine EMG examinations. The only additional procedure specific to this research is the repetition of muscle activation measurements using different electrode systems. There is no invasive procedure involved in the surface electrode applications, and the needle electrode application will be performed exactly as it is in routine EMG tests. No serious risks are anticipated; rarely, mild pain, redness, or minor bleeding at the needle insertion site may occur. Through this study, diagnostic EMG devices could be utilized more effectively in rehabilitation and treatment monitoring. It is intended to contribute to the reduction of invasive procedures and to establish a scientific foundation for clinical applications regarding the objective evaluation of muscle activation.

The facial palsy is a frequent disease with a lot of etiologies. It has variable severities with sometimes heavy functional repercussions and different recovery potentials. The proposed treatments are based on surgery, physiotherapy and botulinum toxin injections. However, when recovery is incomplete, acceptance is more difficult, with an impacted quality of life. Thanks to Motion Capture and Electromyography, a quantification of the facial mimicry is now possible with a great precision. In addition with the quantification of the facial mimicry, eye-tracking, wich is widely used in the marketing field, but it also finds medical applications including head and neck lesions and facial palsy in particular, will be used to evaluate the visio of the patients on their pathology in function of the movement quantification measured with MoCap and Electromyography. The aim of this research is to measure in a combined way the action potentials by sEMG and the amplitudes of displacement of the markers in motion capture, for movements determined in a population of patients presenting a facial pathology, in order to compare them with reference values obtained in healthy subjects. In a second step, the aim will be to study if there is a link between the way the patient looks at his pathology and the results of his management (treatment, rehabilitation) which will be quantitatively evaluated thanks to MoCap and sEMG.

This cross-sectional, comparative study aims to evaluate and compare the surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the gastrocnemius (medial and lateral) and soleus muscles during static and dynamic contraction tasks. Participants will perform three tests-resting state, isometric, concentric, and eccentric contraction, and dynamic gait-with bilateral measurements. A subgroup analysis will examine muscle activity variations based on foot posture, using the Foot Posture Index (FPI). The study uses the validated mDurance® sEMG system to obtain objective data under controlled lab conditions. The findings will enhance understanding of the functional role of each muscle and could inform rehabilitation and injury prevention strategies.

The investigators will establish how well a novel, quick, and painless way of measuring muscle activity from the mouth and throat works for detecting sleep apnea. This technology is called transmembraneous electromyography (tmEMG). Leveraging two technologies, a new probe capable of recording muscle activity by lightly touching the muscle, as well as a machine learning model for signal interpretation, the investigators will conduct an initial observational feasibility study in phase 1, followed by a larger observational cohort study in phase 2 to assess the performance of deep learning enhanced tmEMG. The study will address a critical unmet need in sleep apnea diagnostics: the availability of an inexpensive, accurate diagnostic test for screening at point of care.