A Practical Introduction To Fine Wire EMG Applications

Kinesiological Fine Wire EMG
A practical introduction
to fine wire EMG applications
Thorsten Rudroff
Version 1.0 December 2008
ISBN 0-9771622-3-0
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Kinesiological Fine Wire EMG 2
Contents
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................... 4
About the Author ........................................................................................................................................... 5
How to use this booklet ................................................................................................................................. 6
Definition of EMG .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Signal Origin and Acquisition ........................................................................................................................ 7
Use of fine wire EMG .................................................................................................................................... 9
Amplifier and recording recommendations ................................................................................................. 10
Procedures for the use of fine wire EMG electrodes .................................................................................. 10
Subject Preparation..................................................................................................................................... 11
Electrode Insertion ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Illustrated step by step scheme for electrode attachment .......................................................................... 13
Electrode Removal...................................................................................................................................... 16
Potential Complications............................................................................................................................... 17
Verification of electrode location ................................................................................................................. 18
Muscle Maps ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Signal Detection problems ........................................................................................................................... 22
50 or 60 Hz Interference ............................................................................................................................. 22
Troubleshooting schemes for power hum interferences............................................................................. 23
Faulty connections between fine wires and amplifier cables ...................................................................... 24
Cable or motion artifacts ............................................................................................................................. 24
Shorted wire endings .................................................................................................................................. 27
Interfering motor unit action potentials........................................................................................................ 27
Generalized troubleshooting scheme for fine wire recordings.................................................................... 28
Signal Processing of fine wire EMG recordings ........................................................................................ 29
Digital filtering 1: Highpass Filtering............................................................................................................ 29
Digital filtering 2: Notch Filtering ................................................................................................................. 30
Rectification and Smoothing ....................................................................................................................... 32
Amplitude Normalization ............................................................................................................................. 34
Averaging in time-normalized repetition cycles........................................................................................... 36
Examples of fine wire EMG recordings....................................................................................................... 37
Brachialis..................................................................................................................................................... 37
First Dorsal Interosseus (FDI) ..................................................................................................................... 40
Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis.................................................................................................................... 43
Flexor Carpi Radialis................................................................................................................................... 44
Supraspinatus ............................................................................................................................................. 48
Quadratus Lumborum ................................................................................................................................. 53
Transversus abdominis ............................................................................................................................... 55
Rectus Femoris ........................................................................................................................................... 57
Vastus intermedius...................................................................................................................................... 60
Iliopsoas ...................................................................................................................................................... 62
Peroneus Longus ........................................................................................................................................ 65
References ..................................................................................................................................................... 67
Recommended Books................................................................................................................................... 70
EMG Guidelines, Societies, Search Links................................................................................................... 71
ISBN 0-9771622-3-0
Copyright © 2008 by Noraxon U.S.A., Inc.
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INTRODUCTION
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Dr. Peter Konrad, Software Engineer of Noraxon, who assisted with many editorial details.
I am indebted, in particular, to critical contributions by five individuals: Dr. Stéphane Baudry, who assisted in
editing and provided helpful comments; Stephen Matthews, who helped with the experiments; Jeffrey Gould
and Adam Maerz who assisted with development of anatomical figures and editing; Tyler Rudroff, who is my
source of motivation and inspiration.
I would also like to thank PrimalPictures LTD for the right to use anatomical images from the Interactive
Functional Anatomy 2nd ed.
General terms and conditions
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herein. Noraxon, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of Electromyography (EMG) equipment. Noraxon is not a licensed medical provider. Nothing contained herein is or should be
considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. These materials are for educational use only. The materials provided herein are primarily to educate
users of (EMG) in the health care and related environments. These materials do not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care advice, diagnosis
or treatment.
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About the Author

Dr. Thorsten Rudroff has completed his M.S. degrees in Sports and Exercise Science as well as Physical
Therapy from the German Sport University, Cologne. He continued his education at the University of
Konstanz, Germany to earn a Ph.D. degree in Sports and Exercise Science, summa cum laude.
Subsequently, Dr. Rudroff became a post-doctoral fellow in the Neurophysiology of Movement Laboratory, in
the Department of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he currently serves
as a senior research associate.
His research has focused on the combination of neurophysiology and the biomechanics of human
movement. Currently, his research interests include the adaptations in neural control of skeletal muscle
across aging and fatigue, as well as, understanding the mechanisms responsible for the gender and task
differences in muscle fatigue between children, adolescents and adults. He acts as referee for more than 10
scientific international journals and is a member of the Society for Neuroscience.
How to use this booklet
This first edition of “Kinesiological fine wire EMG” is a short teaching manual
about the usage of fine wire electrodes for electromyographic recordings. This
booklet is not intended to replace the fundamental EMG literature (e.g.Merletti &
Parker 2005). It cannot reflect the variety of different views, opinions and
strategies that have to be considered for responsible scientific use of EMG.
Therefore, it is recommended to study the scientific publications related to a
certain topic.
The main intention is to simplify the first steps in the use of fine wire EMG as a
research and evaluation tool and “get started”. This book overviews the basic Fig. 1 A fundamental EMG
text book. Merletti & Parker:
knowledge needed to apply and perform meaningful fine wire EMG setups and Electromyography
focuses on practical questions and solutions. It is based on the first booklet
ABC of EMG (see chapter “Recommended books”) which introduces signal origin, detection and analysis
techniques of kinesiological surface EMG recordings. It is recommended to also study the ABC of EMG
booklet, especially the chapters about test standardization, analysis and interpretation strategies.
Definition of EMG
"Electromyography (EMG) is an experimental technique concerned with the development, recording

and analysis of myoelectric signals. Myoelectric signals are formed by physiological variations in the
electrical behavior of muscle fiber membranes."
Electromyography…
“..is the study of muscle function through the inquiry

of the electrical signal the muscles emanate.”
Fig. 2 Basmajian &

DeLuca: Definition
Muscles Alive (2 - p. 1)
Unlike the classical Neurological EMG, where an artificial muscle response due to external electrical
stimulation is analyzed in static conditions, the focus of Kinesiological EMG can be described as the study of
the voluntary neuromuscular activation of muscles within postural tasks, functional movements, work
conditions and treatment or training regimes.
Signal Origin and Acquisition
When an end-plate potential is generated at a nerve-muscle synapse, it results in a muscle fiber action
potential that propagates from the synapse to the ends of the muscle fiber. The changes in the electrical
potential of the muscle membrane produced by the propagation of the action potential can be measured
with electrodes: such a recording is known as an electromyogram (EMG).
EMG measurements have been used to (1) assess muscle function during or as a result of exercise and
therapeutic procedures, (2) provide biofeedback to patients, (3) evaluate muscular control by assessing
muscle onset time duration or to establish motor unit discharge rates, (4) assess gait, (5) determine the
requirements of job-related tasks, and (6) assess fatigue. EMG recordings are typically made with two
electrodes, known as bipolar recordings. The resulting signal represents the potential difference between
the two electrodes. For recording an EMG signal, the electrodes can be placed on the skin over a
muscle (surface EMG), under the skin but over the muscle (subcutaneous EMG), or in the muscle
between the fibers (intramuscular EMG).
A B
Fig. 3 Examples of EMG recordings: (A) multiple, overlapping action potentials due to the concurrent activation of many motor
units; (B) a train of action potentials for muscle fibers belonging to one motor unit (Figure from Rudroff et al. 2007c).
The size and location of the electrode determine the composition of the recording, which can range from
single action potentials to global muscle activity (Fig. 3). Surface EMG recordings with many
overlapping action potentials are known as interference EMG (Adrian, 1925; Fuglesang-Frederiksen,
2000; Sanders et al., 1996). Electrodes placed on the skin provide a global measure of action potential
activity in the underlying muscle, whereas fine wire electrodes placed in the muscle are able to record
both interference EMG and single action potentials from adjacent muscle fibers.
Before collecting EMG data, the investigator should consider the following: (1) What is the purpose of the
study? (2) What type of electrodes are appropriate for the recording? (3) Should the investigator use
cabling or telemetry in their setup?
The study purpose determines whether surface or intramuscular electrodes are used. Surface
electrodes are frequently used to assess superficial muscle activity. Intramuscular electrodes are used
to derive information about the activity from muscles located deep in the body and to record motor unit
activity. The advantages and disadvantages of the different electrode types are described on page 9
and discussed in detail elsewhere (Merletti & Parker, 2005; Turker, 1993).
In kinesiological EMG studies, the most common type of intramuscular electrode is the fine wire
electrode. It consists of a pair of extremely fine nylon-coated wires (diameter of 50μm or less) placed in
situ by means of a hypodermic needle. The needle is withdrawn and a small hook or barb at the end of
the wires keeps them in the muscle. Such electrodes may be driven easily into a muscle without
anesthesia causing no more pain than that resulting from the needle puncture itself. If sharp 25-gauge
needles are used, the pain is minimal and transitory. The needle withdraws easily and rarely dislodges
the fine wire electrodes due to the hooks at their ends. These electrodes do have potential
complications including patient discomfort (Jonsson et al., 1968) and wire fracture (Jonsson, 1968).
However, the incidence of these problems is extremely low (Jonsson, 1968) and is not considered a
significant threat to subjects by most experienced electromyographers.
Specialized versions of fine wire electrodes have also been developed. For example, Enoka et al., 1988
described a special version of an indwelling electrode that apparently maximizes signal stability and
muscle action potential selectivity. Their electrode is a branched, bipolar electrode positioned
subcutaneously over the belly of the muscle. This electrode allows recording of motor unit action
potentials during maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), slow movements, and fatiguing contractions of
long durations (Mottram et al., 2006; Rudroff et al., 2007a,b). Needle electrodes are another type of
intramuscular electrode that can be used for diagnostic EMG (Kimura, 1988) or to record motor unit
action potentials during fast or sustained contractions in arm and lower leg muscles (Van Cutsem et al.,
1998; Carpentier et al., 2001; Klaas et al., 2008). The application of these electrodes is limited because
needle displacement during muscle contraction can be painful and can cause muscle damage (Blanton
et al., 1971a, b; Lebedev, 1991).
Another consideration is whether to use a telemetry system or one requiring cabling. Telemetry
systems are ideal for monitoring and recording muscle functionality from long distances without wires or
cables. Telemetric recording is more convenient to record muscle activity during locomotion or complex
movements as no cables limit or restrain the range of motion. Surface and intramuscular EMG signals
are transmitted from the subject to the recording computer by radio waves from as far as 300 yards.
Mobile
EMG Computing
Angle/
Inclination
Mobile Tele-
Force
Sensors metry
Pressure
Acceleration
Foot
Switches
Fig. 4 EMG, force, angle and other types of biomechanical sensors can be connected to a telemetry
system. Data is then transmitted from the system directly to a computer or laptop.
System TELEMYO G2 – Noraxon INC. USA
Use of fine wire EMG
In instances when muscles are deeply located in a body segment or covered by other surface muscles,
recordings using fine wire electrodes are necessary for accuracy. The use of the fine wire technique
requires adequate anatomical and physiological knowledge and training.
Advantages Disadvantages
- Extremely sensitive - Invasive
- Record single muscle activity - Repositioning nearly impossible
- Access to deep musculature - Small detection area
- Low concern of cross-talk - Minor discomfort
Electromyographic (EMG) recordings from thin and deep muscles are difficult to obtain due to cross-talk
from adjacent muscle layers. For this reason, surface electrodes are unsuitable for recording muscle
activity in these muscles.
Although fine wire electrodes can be manipulated while monitoring EMG activity and are suitable for
clinical investigations, accurate placement of fine wire electrodes is more difficult than with surface EMG.
They must hook into the desired muscle layer and cannot be repositioned once inserted. Once inserted
fine wire electrodes are superior for prolonged and non-clinical investigations of muscle function because
they are hooked in the muscle fibers and therefore move with the fibers ensuring that the recording area
is the same.
A typical fine wire electrode is shown in Figure 4. Although it is possible to make fine wire electrodes, it
is recommended for a beginner to start with pre-manufactured electrode (Nicolet, VIASYS TM). These
disposable EMG Paired Hook-Wire Electrodes are ideal for long-term intramuscular recording in
movement/kinesiology studies. They are pre-sterilized and the un-insulated endings are coloured red
for easy recognition. The ends of the wires are positioned so 2 mm of one wire and 5 mm of the
second wire exit at the end of the needle. The first wire is stripped of insulation on the first 2 mm, while
the second wire is insulated for the first 3 mm and stripped the next 2 mm. The electrodes are available
in different sizes (30 mm (1.2’’) Gauge 27 and 50 mm (2.0’’) Gauge 25). The size of the needle
depends on the depth of the muscle under investigation.
Un-isolated Steel Un-isolated Ending (red)

Ending (red) cannula - electrode site
Fig. 5. Schematic of a fine wire

electrode: two fine wires with un-
insolated endings are located with a
Hooked electrode wires steel cannula. From ABC of EMG
Amplifier and recording recommendations
The International Society of Electrophysilogy and Kinesiology (ISEK) recommends to use a bandpass of
5-10 Hz high pass to minimum 1500 Hz low pass frequency
(https://www.isek-online.org/standards_emg.asp).
The A/D conversion and sampling rate should at least be set to double EMG bandpass (e.g. 3000 Hz) to
avoid aliasing problems (see ABC of EMG Chapter “Computation of EMG Signal”).
Procedures for the use of fine wire EMG electrodes
1. Screen the subject to assure that he/she satisfies the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the
experimental purpose depending on the requirements of your local human research committee.
2. Prior to arrival of the subject ensure the setup is complete. Wash your hands and arrange the fine
wire EMG table with alcohol swabs, cotton balls, tape, and sterile medical examination gloves.
3. Before the first experimental session begins, an informed consent form must be read and signed by
the subject. During this time, experiment procedures can be discussed before data collection.
4. When the subject arrives for data collection, review the procedures for the experiment and answer all
questions asked by the subject. Ensure the subject has read and filled out necessary additional
forms required for the study. Additionally, ensure that the subject fully understands what will happen
during data collection and what is required of them.
Fig. 6 Preparation material for the insertion of

the fine wire electrode
1. Sterile Latex Surgical Gloves

2. Delicate Task Wipers, e.g. Kimwipes
3. Skin prepping Gel, e.g. Nuprep
4. Alcohol and Iodine pads
5. Dual surface electrodes
6. Ground Surface Electrode
7. Tape
8. Razor
9. Fine wire electrode
10. Cotton Swab, e.g. Q-Tip
Fig. 7 Fine wire electrode.

44ga × 100 mm Paired Hook Wires
in a 25ga × 50 mm Cannula.
Subject Preparation
Have the subject seated comfortably and perform all experimental set-up prior to electrode insertion
• Prepare the area by shaving and cleaning with an alcohol swab and iodine
• Put on the medical latex gloves
• Explain to the subject that there may be a slight stinging sensation from the alcohol as the
hypodermic needle is inserted, but the procedure should not be painful. Instruct the subject not to
hesitate in expressing any discomfort during the procedure.
Electrode Insertion
WARNING:
IF THE SUBJECT COMPLAINS OF DISCOMFORT OR PAIN AT ANY TIME DURING THE

PROCEDURE, REMOVE THE ELECTRODES IMMEDIATELY AND TERMINATE THE SESSION.
The insertion site should be determined using established procedures e.g. the Anatomic guide for the
electromyographers (Delagi et al., 1994 - Springfield Ill: Charles C. Thomas.) One factor that influences
an EMG recording is electrode placement. This involves both the distance between the electrodes and
the location of the electrodes relative to the neuromuscular junctions (Farina et al., 2002; Merletti et al.,
2001). The neuromuscular junctions are located in the middle of the muscle fibers and span an area
known as the innervation zone. Each fiber is activated at the neuromuscular junction, which results in
the propagation of action potentials in each direction toward the ends of the fiber. The preferred location
for an electrode is the area halfway between the center of the innervation zone and the distal tendon.
The books by Enoka (2008) and Merletti & Parker (2005) provide a full discussion of the
electrophysiological importance of electrode placement in addition to interelectrode distance and
electrode placement for various muscles (Freriks et al., 1999; Rainoldi et al., 2004).
Illustrated step by step scheme for electrode attachment
After skin preparation, if the experiment requires surface

and intramuscular recording, apply the surface electrodes
parallel to the muscle fibers direction and a surface
electrode near the muscle as the ground electrode.
After identification of the area of interest for the electrode

insertion, the insertion site will be marked with a non-
permanent marker.
After marking the site, clean and disinfect the insertion

site with alcohol and iodine.
With medical gloves on, grasp the fine wire electrode by

the connection end of the fine wires and hold the plastic
portion of the hypodermic needle. Orient the needle so
the distal opening faces upward. Check that the fine wires
move freely in the needle.
Hold the needle between the thumb and index finger.
Place the end of the needle against the subject’s skin

over the muscle of interest. With the opposite hand,
spread the skin over the muscle with the index finger and
thumb. Using firm and steady pressure insert the needle
at an angle of approximately 30 degrees until the needle
has pierced the skin.
Talk to the subject during the procedure and ensure that

any discomfort is minimized. Once the needle has
pierced the skin, continue with gentle pressure until the
desired depth is reached.
When the appropriate depth has been reached, apply

pressure with the hand on the skin while gently removing
the needle. This will prevent the wires from being pulled
out. Carefully pull the needle over the fine wires and
immediately place it into a biohazard sharps container.
Have the subject perform a light isometric contraction

ensuring that there is no discomfort. Check the insertion
site for any complications (see below) throughout the
procedure.
Secure the fine wire electrode with tape.
Two models of fine wire pre amplifiers:
- Screw connectors (left)
- Spring connectors (right)
Alternative spring adapter for regular SEMG preamplifier

leads with snap connection
- floating spring adapter
- anchored spring adapter

Attach the wires to the connectors of the pre-amplifier.
Secure the pre-amplifier with tape. Ask the subject to

perform some submaximal isometric contractions with his
or her muscle followed by dynamic contractions.
Check the quality of the EMG signals on the recording

computer. This picture shows the surface EMG signal of
the short head of the biceps brachii (top trace) and the
intramuscular EMG signal of the brachialis muscle
(bottom trace).
Electrode Removal
While wearing medical gloves, grasp the wire(s) with the thumb and index finger on one hand.
• Remove wire(s) with a firm but gentle continuous pull. Once the wire(s) are removed, apply firm
pressure with an alcohol swab to the insertion site to minimize bruising. Clean the site with an
additional alcohol swab if necessary.
• Place electrode wire(s) in biohazard sharps disposal container.
• Dispose of all other waste in the biohazard waste bin or bag.

Potential Complications
Inflammation Symptom – Signs will include redness, swelling, pain or tenderness.

Inflammation can be caused by bacteria due to non-sterile procedures or by
mechanical deformation from excessive movement of the electrode.
Response – Immediately remove the electrode and then compress and elevate
the affected limb and apply ice to the affected region.
May require referral to a medical professional.
Hematoma Symptom – Signs will include swelling and possible bleeding if a blood vessel
has been pierced.
Response – Immediately remove the electrode and then compress and elevate
the affected limb and apply ice to the affected region.
May require referral to a medical professional.
Vaso-vagal episode Symptom – Fainting

Response – Obtain assistance from another member of the laboratory. Assure
the subject is free of any laboratory equipment and slowly lower them to a
supine position on the floor.
When the subject responds, raise the legs by 20 – 30 cm and leave the person
on the floor.
If the person is unconscious, loosen any restrictive clothing at the waist or neck.
Loosen any restrictive clothing at the waist or neck. Do not give subject
anything to eat or drink. Monitor the condition of the subject by checking the
strength and regularity of the pulse. Allow the subject to remain on the ground
as long as necessary and allow the person to gradually rise to a seated position
and then to a standing position.
It may be necessary to escort the person home or to refer them to a medical
professional.
In the event of a needle stick injury, report the incident immediately to your supervisor and to a medical
professional who will determine what actions may be required.
Verification of electrode location
It is strongly recommended to verify the electrode location. In case of the fine wire technique, electro-
myographers can use functional tests, ultrasound images and stimulation through the implanted wires
to verify electrode location. An appropriate specific muscle test can be used to ensure that the electrode
is inserted into the correct muscle (e.g. external shoulder rotation for infraspinatus, leg extension for
quadriceps muscles). Perform the contraction and watch for activity in the recording computer. If a
more objective method to test electrode location is needed, the investigator may use ultrasonography.
A study by Rudroff et al., 2008 compared changes in intramuscular and surface recording of EMG
amplitude in parallel with ultrasound measures of muscle architecture of the elbow flexor muscles
during a submaximal contraction. A B-mode ultrasonographic apparatus (Sonolayer SSH0140A,
Toshiba) with a 7.5-MHz linear-array probe (38-mm scanning length) was positioned on the skin to
measure selected features of the muscle architecture: the thickness of the long head of the biceps
brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis muscles, and the pennation angle of the fascicles in brachialis
(Figure 8). Minimal pressure was applied to the scanner against the skin so that deformation of the
tissues was minimized. Landmarks were drawn on the skin overlying the muscles. The thickness of
biceps brachii and brachialis was measured by placing the transducer on the anterior aspect of the arm
in a sagittal plane and proximal to the crease of the elbow.
Fig. 8 Representative ultrasonography of intramuscular EMG depth. Ultrasound image (left) of the relaxed long head of
biceps brachii and brachialis muscles with the transducer placed on the anterior aspect of the arm in a sagittal plane
and proximal to the crease of the elbow. Right shows the parameters measured for each muscle: a:, thickness of the
long head of biceps brachii; b, thickness of brachialis; α, pennation angle for fascicles in brachialis muscle.
Depth of the electrodes: 1 = 1/2a, 2 = 1/3b, 3 = 2/3b. Figure from Rudroff et al., 2008.
The transducer was moved slightly in a lateral direction to ensure a clear image of the muscle
boundaries and the periosteal reflection from the humerus. Brachioradialis was measured by placing the
transducer over the muscle belly just distal to the crease of the elbow joint and parallel to the longitudinal
axis of the forearm. Two ultrasound measurements were made for brachialis: the thickness between the
superficial border of the muscle and the humeral surface 2 cm from the left-hand edge of the image, and
the angle of pennation between the most clearly visualized fascicle and its insertion into the humeral
surface. The thickness of the long head of biceps brachii and brachioradialis muscles was determined
as the distance between the lower and upper boundaries. The ultrasound analyses were made offline
with digitizing software (Scion Image, National Institutes of Health). A disposable 25-gauge hypodermic
needle was used to insert two stainless steel wires into the muscle bellies at an angle that was parallel to
the ultrasound probe. The needle was removed after the wires reached a depth that was determined by
the ultrasound measurements. The depths were 1/2 of the muscle cross-section for biceps brachii, and
1/3 and 2/3 of muscle thickness for brachialis (Figure 8) and brachioradialis. The latter was inserted
~3 cm distal from the elbow crease.
There are recommendations regarding verification of electrode location with ultrasonography for various
muscles (Herbert et al., 1995; Hodges et al., 2003; Rudroff et al., 2008; Shi et al., 2006).
Another method to determine the location of the fine wire electrodes is the usage of stimulation through
the implanted wires (Basmajian &DeLuca, 1985).
Muscle Maps
Deeper, smaller or overlaid muscles need a fine wire application to be safely and selectively detected
and recorded. Most of the important limb and trunk muscles can be measureD by surface EMG
electrodes. The following muscle maps show a selection of muscles that typically have been
investigated in kinesiological studies.
Frontal View
Fine Wire Sites: Surface Sites:

Frontalis
Smaller face muscles

Masseter
Smaller neck muscles

Sternocleidomastoideus
Deltoideus p. acromialis
Pectoralis minor Deltoideus p. clavicularis
Pectoralis major
Biceps brachii
Serratus anterior
Rectus abdominis
Diaphragma
Brachioradialis
Smaller forearm muscles Flexor carpum radialis
Flexor carpum ulnaris
Transversus abd. Obliquus externus abdominis

Internus / Transversus abd.
Iliacus
Tensor fascia latae
Psoas major
Interosseus
Adductors (selective)
Adductores
Vastus intermedius
Rectus femoris
Vastus lateralis
Vastus medialis
Peroneus longus
Tibialis anterior
Thin / deep shank muscles
Smaller foot muscles
Fig. 9 Anatomical positions of selected electrode sites – frontal view. The left side indicates deep
muscles and positions for fine wire electrodes; the right side for surface muscles and placements.
From ABC of EMG
Dorsal View
Fine Wire Sites: Surface Sites:
Deep neck muscles Neck extensors
Trapezius p. descendenz
Supraspinatus
Subscapularis Trapezius p. transversus
Rhomboideus Deltoideus p. scapularis
Teres major / minor Infraspinatus
Thoracic erector spinae Trapezius p. ascendenz

Triceps brachii c. med. Triceps brachii (c. long./lat.)
Latissimus dorsi
Deep segmental erector spinae Erector spinae (thoracic region)

Erector spinae (lumbar region)
Quadratus lumborum
Smaller forearm extensors Smaller forcearm extensors
Deep multifii Multifiduus lumbar region
Glutaeus medius
Deep hip muscles
Glutaeus maximus
Biceps femoris
Semitendinosus/membranosus
Gastrocnemius lat.
Gastrocemius med.
Thin / deep shank muscles
Soleus
Fig. 10 Anatomical positions of selected electrode sites – dorsal view. The left side indicates deep
muscles and positions for fine wire electrodes; the right side for surface muscles and placements.
From ABC of EMG
Signal Detection problems
50 or 60 Hz Interference
EMG recordings can easily be contaminated by interfering 50 Hz (e.g. Europe) or 60 Hz (e.g.USA)

power hum. Fine wire recordings have an increased sensitivity because of the unshielded wire endings.
Noise artifacts are caused by leakage current generated from improperly grounded electrical devices,
electric motors, power supplies or similar sources. Noise artifacts are conducted by metal frames, certain
floor material and may increase if the subject gets too close or in direct contact with the conducting
material.
Fig. 11 60 Hz power hum artifact caused by an external “noisy” ultra-sound sonograph. The
baseline noise level exceeds 15 to 20 uV
50/60 Hz noise can be visually identified by zooming in on the affected baseline and checking the
repetitive sinoidal signal shape (see Zoom box in Fig. 11). A more objective verification is to apply a Fast
Fourier Transformation to generate a Total Power Spectrum:
Fig. 12 Power spectrum of the zoomed area in the fine wire EMG trace shown in Fig. 8. Note
the dominant sharp spike at 60 Hz
When this source of noise is present a sharp power peak can be seen at 50 or 60 Hz within the Total
Power Spectrum.
Troubleshooting schemes for power hum interferences
When power hum is present, the first step is to find the source of the noise. It is generally recommended
to avoid cable drums or power strip for all devices involved in the EMG recording. In many buildings,
wall-outlets differ by their noise level. Outlets mounted directly to the wall are preferred. All unnecessary
electrical devices should be turned off. The first preparatory step of any EMG recording is to verify the
electronic noise is below the level that will interfere with the recording. Telemetry systems are much less
sensitive to ground and leakage noise because they are battery operated and thus not directly
connected to wall powered devices. Walking around the room to find “noisy” areas is one strategy. One
can also touch all the devices nearby and check if the noise level increases. A common source of noise
can be computer power supplies. Heavy machines like treadmills and/or devices with strong electric
motors may interfere and should be checked as well. Often the problem with a given noisy device can
be solved by adding a ground using copper wires. If the source of power leakage hum cannot be
identified try to move away from noisy areas or consider recording in another location.
Faulty connections between fine wires and amplifier cables
The connection between the fine wire and adapter of the preamplifier is the most sensitive point, so must
be carefully arranged. It is typically the first connection to troubleshoot. Special attention should be given
to make sure the electrical connection is well arranged. A faulty connection may show an increased
noise level, slow wave baseline deviations or no signals at all.
Gently pull the wire to check that it has stable connection with the adapter. Check that the conductive
insulated ending of the wire has contact with the preamplifier. Any loose endings should not touch each
other to avoid electrical shorts. A repositioning of wires may help with a persistent problem.
Cable or motion artifacts
In dynamic studies motion artifacts caused by wire or muscle belly shaking are an ongoing concern.
They can cause sharp amplitude spikes or slow wave baseline shifts.
Fig. 13 Cable motion artifact in a walking trial (ch.1=SEMG Rectus Fem., ch. 2= fine wire EMG Rectus
Fem., ch. 3= foot switch signal). The artifact appears right after heel strike and is visible both in surface
and fine wire recording
Sharp spike artifacts have a repetitive nature related to the subjects motion cycle and are typically
caused by wire shaking or changes in pressure near the electrode.
Fig. 14 Fine wire recording of Rectus Fem. (upper channel) in a treadmill walking trial. The
cable motion artifact has repetitive nature directly related to the gait event (see foot switch
signal – lower channel).
In many cases, the problem can be minimized by securing the patient cables tighter or using another
method to attach them. Taping or repositioning the preamps can also help.
Fig. 15 Motion artifact due to cabling shaking on channel #2: The analysis of the time
synchronized video recording (upper right image) reveals that in the end flexion the muscle
belly touches the wires and causes an artifact spike on the fine wire Brachialis recording in
ch. 2
Muscles can show considerable wobbling in dynamic activities. Changes in temporary volume
conduction and geometrical wire ending arrangement cannot be avoided. These interfering temporary
changes in local detection geometry are typically producing slow wave baseline shifts. The contraction
process itself can temporarily change the position of the wires against each other, even in static
contractions.
Fig. 16 Slow wave artifacts produced by internal motion/muscle tissue migration in semi static
contraction in fine wire recording of multifidus (ch. 2). The parallel surface recording at the
insertion position is not affected (ch. 1).The subject is performing a diagonal shoulder-hip
extension/flexion cycle in quadruple position
In addition to carefully securing the wires, a temporary static maximal contraction or pulling the wires
gently may help to minimize this problem:
Fig. 17 Same exercise/recording as figure 13 but with rearranged wire positioning.

Shorted wire endings

The hooked wired endings of commercial fine wire electrodes are arranged so that a short direct contact
between non-insulated wire endings rarely happens, but it cannot be completely avoided. This is a
problem particularly over the course of a dynamic contraction series. In a situation where the contact
between the wires and preamp adapter is checked and okay, a flat line signal may be caused by an
electrical short between the wire endings in the muscle tissue.
Fig. 18 An example of an electrical short during a fine wire recording (lower trace)
of the multifidus during a static test contraction. The baseline is drifting away from
zero and no amplitude innervation spikes are visible (Drifting Baseline.).
Interfering motor unit action potentials

Due to the very small pickup area of fine wires single motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) can be picked
up and interfere with the recording:
Fig. 19 A fine wire multifidus recording contaminated with MUAPs and shifting
baseline during a static contraction.
This problem can be easily detected by zooming in on the raw signal and checking its rhythmic triphasic
shape (see Zoom box). The only way to eliminate interfering MUAP recordings is to reposition the wire
endings with a static max contraction or gently pulling on the wires.
Generalized troubleshooting scheme for fine wire recordings
• Check and establish the electrical environment in your lab prior to the main experiments
• Use easy muscle setups to test noise sources and conditions
• Find and eliminate 50/60 Hz noise sources and areas of increased current leakage
• Switch off all unnecessary wall powered devices
• Avoid the use of cable drums and faulty power strips
• Check the power supply of all involved devices (e.g. laptop power supply)
• Arrange additional grounding of heavy machines and devices with strong electro-motors
• Carefully check the electrical contact between the fine wires and preamplifier adapter
• Perform a maximum contraction to reposition the wires in the muscle belly
• Gently pull on the wires to reposition them
• If artifact problems persist, consider a new insertion point

Signal Processing of fine wire EMG recordings
To quantify fine wire recordings, it is recommended to apply certain signal processing steps to minimize
the effect of artifacts and increase the reliability of the data. The most common steps are summarized in
figure 20 and include highpass filtering at 10 or 20 Hz, rectification and smoothing.
Fig. 20 Bandpass filtered (20Hz high-pass), full wave rectified and smoothed (RMS100)
EMG signal (red curve), shown in a processing overlay scheme based on raw data
(blue-grey curve).
A short introduction of signal processing methods and strategies are presented in the following chapter.
Please also refer to the chapter Signal Processing in the ABC of EMG booklet.
Digital filtering 1: Highpass Filtering
If it is needed, digital filtering is always applied prior to any other signal processing method. Digital
filtering should be used with care because it automatically causes loss of signal information.
Nevertheless, for dynamic studies involving amplitude analysis it is generally recommended to apply a
10 or 20 Hz highpass filter. This will help to stabilize slow wave baseline shifts and will automatically
correct any DC shift of the zero line in raw EMG recordings. Due to the huge benefit of a stable and
correctly positioned baseline, the amplitude related signal loss is of minor importance and will only
marginally affect the data integrity.
Fig. 21 20 Hz Highpass filtering (black curve) applied to a raw Fine wire recording (blue
curve) with heavy baseline shifts in a static multifidus contraction: the IIR Bessel filter
corrects any slow wave shift
Digital filtering 2: Notch Filtering
Notch filters cancel out certain frequency contents of the signal, e.g. 50/60 Hz artifact cycles:
Fig. 22 The original raw curve is shown in green color, the dark blue curve is notch
filtered at 60 and 120 Hz. Note the reduction in baseline noise between contractions
The notch filter can help correct records contaminated with power hum. The signal loss is acceptable for
amplitude oriented analysis. In general, EMG recordings should have a signal loss due to filtering of less
than 10% (see below) of the unfiltered signal magnitude.
Channel Curves Mean, uV Peak, uV

Show Notc h Filter Effec t, IN FRASPIN. FINE WIRE, uV
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0 55.8 48.2 220 212

s0 5 10 15 20
Fig. 23 Highpass filtered and RMS smoothed fine wire EMG recording of infraspinatus
contractions as shown in Fig. 22. Dark green is the notch filtered curve, light green is the
same signal prior to filtering.
When notch filtering is employed, active EMG bursts will be reduced slightly, but the main effect is to
remove the noise from baseline signals. While the amplitude may be slightly reduced, the shape of the
rectified smoothed and averaged signal is very close to that of the unfiltered signal.
Average Period Mean, uV Maximum, uV

INFRASPIN. FINE W IRE, uV INFRASPIN. FINE WIRE
150
100
Fig. 24 The three EMG bursts shown in

50 figure 23 are rectified, smoothed and
averaged in a time normalized cycle.
Green is the un-notched curve, red the
Diff
85.2 77.7
8.7 % Diff
175 166
5.2 %
notch-filtered curve. Note the similarity
Periods 1 Phase 1
Markers
between the curves.
%0 50 100
T o ta l P o w e r S p e c t r u m
IN F R A S P IN . F IN E W I R E , u V * u V *s
10 0
50
0
IN F R A S P IN . F IN E W I R E , u V * u V *s
10 0
Fig. 25 FFT based power spectrum analysis of

50 the un-notched (upper curve) and notch-filtered
curve (lower curve). The blue rectangles indicate
the notched frequencies of 60 and 120 Hz. Note
the gaps in the notched power spectrums at the
0
Hz 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 50 0
notch frequency
For EMG investigations using frequency analysis parameters, notch filtering should not be used because
signal energy loss of up to 35% can occur (see Fig. 25).
Because of the increased probability to catch power hum artifacts during fine wire recordings, notch
filtering can be used to “save” and fit data, but care should be taken to find the correct ratio between
signal fitting and signal distortion. It is strongly recommended to avoid sources of power hum before data
collection rather than trying to filter them out of a poor signal. Methods for this were described previously.
Rectification and Smoothing
Rectification and smoothing are standard processes for almost all EMG analysis. Rectification is needed
to process standard amplitude values like mean amplitude or area, and smoothing is applied to eliminate
the non-reproducible spikes within the EMG signal. Smoothing can be done with mathematical
algorithms like moving average or root mean square (RMS). If the latter is applied, the signal is called
RMS EMG.
Raw EMG
Rectified EMG
RMS EMG
(100ms)
Fig. 26 Based on the raw signal (upper trace) the signal is first full wave
rectified (middle trace) and finally smoothed with a RMS algorithm
To some degree, smoothing can eliminate the effects of cable shaking artifacts:
Fig. 27 Smoothed and rectified (RMS 100ms) fine wire EMG signal of the Rectus
Fem. during gait analysis. The cable artifact (as described in Fig. 13) is nearly
eliminated through the smoothing algorithms, which by its nature only follows the
mean innervation trend within the signal
Amplitude Normalization
Any EMG recording is based on a unique detection condition which cannot be precisely reproduced.
Therefore, the absolute values obtained cannot be compared across subject or for the same subject
across different sessions. One benefit of fine wire recording is that it bypasses the effects of skin and
tissue filtering between electrodes and muscles. However, the precise position and distance between the
fine wire electrodes can significantly vary and care must be taken to directly compare two raw recordings
by means of their absolute microvolt values.
Fig. 28 MVC (Maximal Voluntary Contraction) test for 2 muscles (multifidus SEMG and fine wire) in a static,
secured prone lying position. The MVC trial is performed 3 times, with pausing of 30 sec. between trials. The
green areas indicate the signal portion of highest EMG level for each channel. The mean value of this
interval (500ms) is defined as the MVC reference value.
For healthy subjects, varying anatomical detection conditions can be eliminated by a biological
calibration of the microvolt data to reference value. This reference value can be the mean or peak
amplitude value of a given trial or the highest activity level for those muscles during a maximal voluntary
contraction (MVC). This procedure is typically called MVC-normalization and is measured in separate
static tests. The original microvolt data of all trials are expressed as a percentage of the highest
innervation level (%MVC). This procedure allows a direct comparison of EMG data between muscle sites
and subjects. The other benefit is that MVC data provide information about the neuromuscular fatigue
level for those muscles during a particular activity (e.g. “the muscles fire with 35% of its MVC
maximum”). MVC normalization requires healthy subjects to perform a true maximum muscular effort in
order to obtain representative data. For more information, please refer to the chapter entitled
“Normalization” in the ABC of EMG booklet.
Fig. 29 Example of MVC normalized activity: the subject is stepping back and forth with his right leg. Surface
(channel 1) and fine wire recording (channel 2) of the rectus femoris and a foot switch signal (channel 3) were
recorded for a sequence of four repetition cycles.
Averaging in time-normalized repetition cycles
Averaging is the preferred method to normalize the unavoidable variability of EMG patterns within
repetitive motion cycles (see Fig. 29) Since any repetitive exercise differs in duration between
repetitions, time normalization of 100% percent of the motion cycle can be applied. The data are
expressed as a vector with a resolution of 100 data points, thus it doesn’t matter how long the original
repetition lasted. Averaging requires a motion trigger to determine the start and end points, points of
return (e.g. flexion to extension) or gait events (heel strike, toe off), which can be accomplished by using
foot switches, goniometers, inclinometers or time-synchronized DV video at a minimum of 50 fps.
Average Period Mean, % Peak, %

RECTUS FEM., % RECTUS FEM. FINE WIRE
100
50
0 Diff 32.8 % 1.5 % Diff 24.4 % 1.6 %

Periods 1 Phase 1 2 Phase 2 53.0 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 1 Phase 2
Markers
%0 50 100
Fig. 30 MVC and time-normalized average activation pattern of the forward-backward step motion. The
averaged curves of 4 repetitions +/- 1 standard deviation (shaded area) are shown in the step forward (yellow)
and step backwards (blue) phase. The data show a direct comparison of SEMG (green curve) and fine wire
(red curve) recording of the Rectus Fem. in the step exercise of fig. 29.
Examples of fine wire EMG recordings
Brachialis
A B
Fig. 31 A. Location of needle insertion into brachialis, B. View of brachialis after removal of biceps brachii
The brachialis muscle is a muscle in the upper arm that flexes the elbow joint. It lies just below the biceps
brachii.
Proximal attachment: Distal half of the anterior aspect of the humerus
Distal attachment: Tuberosity and coronoid process of the ulna.
Innervation: Musculocutaneus nerve (C5, 6)
Blood supply: Muscular branches from the brachial artery and the radial recurrent
artery from the radial artery.
Action: Flexion of the forearm at the elbow. Agonists: biceps brachii and Brachioradialis;
Antagonist: triceps brachii (long, lateral, and medial heads) and anconeus.
Electrode insertion: Insert electrode two finger widths proximal to elbow groove along and just lateral
to the tendon and the bulk of the biceps brachii.
Pitfalls: If the needle electrode is inserted too medially, it will be in the biceps.
Functional test: Elbow flexion with the forearm pronated.

Subject with fine wires in brachialis muscle (left). Surface EMG electrodes are placed over the short head of
the biceps brachii (right).
Subject performs elbow flexion. Channel 1 shows surface EMG activity; Channel 2 fine wire EMG activity.
The bars on the lower right indicate the EMG values at each time point of the motion.
Subject performs elbow flexion. Channel 1 shows surface EMG activity; Channel 2 fine wire EMG activity,
and the bottom trace the force output measured by a force transducer attached to the cable. The bars on
the lower right indicate the EMG values at each time point of the motion.
Suggested Readings
Herbert RD, Gandevia SC. Changes in pennation with joint angle and muscle torque: in vivo measurements in human
brachialis muscle. J Physiol 484: 523-532, 1995.
Rudroff T, Staudenmann D, Enoka RM. Electromyographic measures of muscle activation and changes in muscle
architecture of human elbow flexors during fatiguing contractions. J Appl Physiol 104: 1720-1726, 2008.
Rudroff T, Christou EA, Poston B, Bojsen-Møller J, Enoka RM. Time to failure of a sustained contraction is predicted by
target torque and initial electromyographic bursts in elbow flexor muscles. Muscle Nerve 35: 657-666, 2007b.
First Dorsal Interosseus (FDI)
Fig. 32 Location of needle insertion into FDI
Proximal attachment: Each by two heads, to the adjacent sides of the metacarpals in each interspace.
The first lying between the first and second metacarpals.
Distal attachment: Base of the proximal phalanx and the ipsilateral band of the extensor apparatus.
The first dorsal interosseus attaches to the radial side of the thumb.
Innervation: Palmar branch of the ulnar nerve (C8, T1)
Blood supply: Deep palmar arch of the radial artery.
Action: Flexion of the first digit at the metacarpophalangeal joints. Agonists: palmar
interossei, lumbricals, flexor digiti minimi, flexor digitorum profundus; Antagonists:
extensor digitorum, extensor indicis, and extensor digiti minimi.
Electrode insertion: Insert needle radial to second metacarpal
Pitfalls: If the needle electrode is inserted too deeply it will be in the adductor pollicis.
Functional test: Abduction of the index finger

Suggested Readings
Christou EA, Poston B, Enoka JA, Enoka RM. Different neural adjustments improve endpoint accuracy with practice in
young and old adults. J Neurophysiol 97: 3340-3350, 2007.
Maluf KS, Shinohara M, Stephenson JL, Enoka RM. Muscle activation and time to task failure differ with load type and
contraction intensity for a human hand muscle. Exp Brain Res 167: 165-177, 2005.
Poston B, Enoka JA, Enoka RM. Endpoint accuracy for a small and a large hand muscle in young and old adults during
rapid, goal-directed isometric contractions. Exp Brain Res 187: 373-385, 2008.
Abductor pollicis brevis
Fig. 33 Location of needle insertion into abductor pollicis brevis
The abductor pollicis brevis is a muscle in the hand that functions as an abductor of the thumb.
Proximal attachment: Distal border of the flexor retinaculum.
Distal attachment: Lateral aspect of the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb and, occasionally,
a slip to the extensor apparatus of the thumb.
Innervation: Recurrent branch of the median nerve (C8, T1).
Blood supply: Superficial palmar branches of the radial artery.
Action: Palmar abduction of the thumb at the trapeziometacarpal joint. Agonist: none;
Antagonist: adductor pollicis.
Electrode insertion: Midpoint of a line drawn between the volar aspect of the first
metacarpophalangeal joint and the carpometacarpal joint. Insert to depth of one-
fourth to one-half inch.
Pitfalls: If the needle electrode is inserted too deeply it will be in the opponens pollicis.
Functional test: Palmar abduction of the thumb.
Suggested Readings
Van Oudenaarde E, Oostendorp RA. Functional relationship between the abductor pollicis longus and abductor pollicis
brevis muscles: an EMG analysis. J Anat 186, 509-515,1995.
Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis
Fig. 34 Location of needle insertion into extensor carpi radialis brevis
The extensor carpi radialis brevis is shorter and thicker than the longus, which lies beneath.
Proximal attachment: Lateral epicondyle of the humerus via the common extensor tendon and the radial
collateral ligament of the elbow.
Distal attachment: Dorsal surface of the base of the third metacarpal.
Innervation: Radial nerve, posterior cord, posterior division, upper and middle trunk (C6, C7).
Blood supply: Radial recurrent artery from the radial artery.
Action: Extension of the wrist. Agonists: extensor carpi radialis longus and extensor carpi
ulnaris; Antagonists: flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, and flexor carpi ulnaris.
Electrode insertion: Insert two finger widths distal to lateral epicondyle.
Functional test: Wrist extension and radial deviation.
Suggested Readings
Chae J, Knutson J, Hart R, Fang ZP. Selectivity and sensitivity of intramuscular and trancutaneous electromyography
electrodes. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 80: 374-379, 2001.
Finsen L, Søgaard K, Graven-Nielsen T, Christensen H. Activity patterns of wrist extensor muscles during wrist
extensions and deviations. Muscle Nerve 31: 242-251, 2005.
Riek S, Carson RG, Wright A. A new technique for the selective recording of extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis
EMG. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 10: 249-253, 2000.
Flexor Carpi Radialis
Fig. 35 Location of needle insertion into flexor carp radialis
The flexor carpi radialis is a muscle of the forearm that acts to flex and abduct the hand.
Proximal attachment: Medial epicondyle of the humerus via the common flexor tendon.
Distal attachment: Base of the second and, occasionally, the third metacarpal.
Innervation: Radial nerve, posterior cord, posterior division, upper and middle trunk (C6, C7).
Blood supply: Muscular branches of the radial artery.
Action: Flexion of the wrist. Agonists: palmares longus and flexor carpi ulnaris;
Antagonists: extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, and
extensor carpi ulnaris.
Electrode insertion: Three to four finger widths distal to the midpoint of a line connecting the medial
epicindyle and biceps tendon.
Functional test: Flexion of wrist with radial deviation.
Suggested Readings
Alizadehkhaiyat O, Fisher AC, Kemp GJ, Frostik SP. Strength and fatigability of selected muscles in upper limb:
Assessing muscle imbalance relevant to tennis elbow. J Elelectromyogr Kinesiol 17: 428-436, 2007.
Calancie C, Bawa P. Voluntary and reflexive recruitment of flexor carpi radialis motor units in humans. J Neurophysiol
53, 1194-1200, 1985.
Infraspinatus
A B
Fig. 36 A. Location of needle insertion into infraspinatus, B. View of infraspinatus after removal of trapezius and deltoid
muscles
Proximal attachment: Infraspinous fossa of the scapula.
Distal attachment: The middle of the three facets of the greater tubercle of the humerus.
Innervation: Suprascapular nerve (C5, 6)
Blood supply: Suprascapular artery from the thyrocervical trunk and humeral circumflex humeral
artery from the axillary artery.
Primary action: External rotation of the arm at the shoulder Agonists: teres minor and posterior
deltoid Antagonist: subscapularis, anterior deltoid, latissimus dorsi, pectoralis
major (sternal head), pectoralis major (clavicular head), and teres major.
Electrode insertion: Insert needle electrode into infraspinous fossa two finger widths below medial
portion of the spine of the scapula.
Pitfalls: If needle electrode is inserted too superficially it will be in the trapezius; if too
laterally it will be in posterior deltoid.
Functional test: External shoulder rotation

Subject with fine wire electrodes in infraspinatus muscle. Surface electrodes are placed over the muscle.
Subject performs internal and external shoulder rotation. The top trace shows surface EMG activity, middle
trace fine wire EMG activity, and the bottom trace the force output measured by a force transducer attached
to the cable. The bars on the lower right indicate the EMG and force values during the contraction.
Internal and external shoulder rotation with simultaneous ultrasonography video recording:
Suggested Readings
Bitter NL, Clisby EF, Jones MA, Magarey ME, Jaberzadeh, Sandow MJ. Relative contributions of infraspinatus and
deltoid during external rotation in healthy shoulders. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 16: 563-568, 2007.
Morris AD, Kemp GJ, Lees A, Frostic SP. A study of the reproducibility of three different normalisation methods in
intramuscular dual fine wire electromyography of the shoulder. J Elelectromyogr Kinesiol 8: 317-322, 1998.
Palmerud G, Forsman M, Sporrong H, Herberts P, Kadefors R. Intramuscular pressure of the infra- and supraspinatus
muscles in relation to hand load and arm posture. Eur J Appl Physiol 83: 223-230, 2000.
Rudroff T, Barry BK, Stone AL, Barry CJ, Enoka RM. Accessory muscle activity contributes to the variation in time to task
failure for different arm postures and loads. J Appl Physiol 102: 1000-1006, 2007.
Supraspinatus
A B
Fig. 37 A. Location of needle insertion into supraspinatus, B. View of supraspinatus after removal of trapezius and
deltoid muscles
The supraspinatus is a relatively small muscle of the upper limb and is one of the four rotator cuff muscles
Proximal attachment: Supraspinous fossa of scapula.
Distal attachment: Superior facet of greater tubercle of humerus.
Innervation: Suprascapular nerve, upper trunk, C5, C6.
Blood supply: Suprascapular artery from the thyrocervical trunk and the dorsal scapular artery.
Action: Abduction of arm and stabilization of humerus. Agonist: middle deltoid; Antagonist:
latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, teres major, and long head of triceps brachii.
Electrode insertion: At the supraspinous fossa just above the spine of the scapula beneath the
trapezius. The electrode will travel through the midtrapezius muscle.
Pitfalls: If needle electrode is inserted too superficially it will be in the trapezius.
Functional test: External shoulder rotation.
Suggested Readings: Same as for infraspinatus.

Teres Minor
Fig. 38 Location of needle insertion into teres minor
The teres minor is a narrow, elongated muscle of the rotator cuff.
Proximal attachment: On the dorsal surface of the middle half of the lateral border of the scapula.
Distal attachment: The inferior facet of greater tubercle of humerus
Innervation: Axillary nerve, posterior cord, posterior division, upper trunk, C5, C6.
Blood supply: Scapular circumflex and posterior humeral circumflex arteries.
Action: External rotation of the arm at the shoulder. Agonist: infraspinatus and posterior
deltoid; Antagonist: anterior deltoid, subscapularis, pectoralis major (clavicular and
sternal heads), teres major, and latissimus dorsi)
Electrode insertion: Insert one-third of the way between acromion and inferior angle of the scapular
along lateral border.
Pitfalls: If needle is inserted too cephalad, it will be in the supraspinatus, if inserted too
caudally, it will be in the teres major; if inserted too superficially, it will be in the
trapezius. If inserted too medially, it will be in the infraspinatus.
Functional test: Externally arm rotation.
Suggested Readings: Same as for infraspinatus.

Multifidus
A B
Fig. 39 A. Location of needle insertion into multifidus, B. View of multifidus after removal of overlaying muscles.
Multifidus is a series of paired small muscles extending the full length of the spine just superficial to the
rotatores and each spanning 2 or 3 intervertebral spaces.
Proximal attachment: Sacral region: dorsal surface of the sacrum as low as the fourth sacral foramen,
the aponeurosis of erector spinae, the posterior superior iliac spine, and the dorsal
sacro-iliac ligaments.
Lumbar region: all the mamillary processes. Thoracic region: all the transversus
processes. Cervical region: the articular processes of C4 to C7.
Distal attachment: arrangement in three layers, attaching to the entire length of the spinous
processes of C2 to L5: the deepest layer attaches to the adjacent vertebra; the
intermediate layer attaches to the second or third vertebra above; and the
superficial layer to the third or fourth vertebra above.
Action: Contralateral rotation of the cervical spine when acting unilaterally. Agonist:
semispinalis cervicis; Antagonist: multifidus muscle of the contralateral side.
Innervation: Dorsal primary rami of all spinal nerves.
Blood Supply: Dorsal rami of the posterior intercostal arteries, the dorsal branches of the
subcostal arteries, and the dorsal branches of the lumbar arteries.
Electrode Insertion: Two finger widths lateral to the spine.
Pitfalls: If the fine wire electrode is inserted too superficially it will be in the erector spinae.
Subject performs a typical exercise (diagonal arm/leg extension in quadruple position) for the back muscles.
Left top trace shows surface EMG activity, middle trace fine wire EMG activity of the multifidus. The bars on
the lower right indicate the EMG activity during the contraction.
Subject performs another common exercise (prone lying back extension) for the back muscles. Left top
trace shows surface EMG activity, middle trace fine wire EMG activity of the multifidus. The bars on the
lower right indicate the EMG activity during the contraction.
Suggested Readings
Moseley GL, Hodges PW, Gandevia SC. Deep and superficial fibers of the lumbar multifidus muscle are differentially
active during voluntary arm movements. Spine 27: 29-36, 2002.
Vasseljen O, Dahl HH, Mork PJ, Torp HG. Muscle activity onset in the lumbar multifidus muscle recorded simultaneously
by ultrasound imaging and intramuscular electromyography. Clin Biomech 21: 905-913, 2006.
Quadratus Lumborum
A B
Fig. 40 A. Location of needle insertion into quadratus lumborum, B. View of quadratus lumborum after removal of
overlaying muscles
The quadratus lumborum has an irregular and quadrilateral shape, and is broader at its base.
Proximal attachment: Transverse processes of L1 to L4, the iliolumbar ligament, and the posterior third
of the iliac crest.
Distal attachment: Inferior border of the 12th rib
Innervation: Ventral primary rami of T12 to L3
Blood supply: Branches of the lumbar artery
Action: Alone, lateral flexion of vertebral column; Together, depression of thoracic rib
cage. Agonists: iliocostalis lumborum, longissimus thoracis, psoas major, external
and internal oblique; Antagonist: contralateral quadratus lumborum.
Electrode insertion: Subject starts in a prone position and then is asked to lift the chest off the table to
increase the lumbar lordosis. This position will allow the precise identification of
the lateral border of the erector spinae muscle. Two insertion areas are available:
(1) One finger width lateral to the erector spine mass and just proximal to the iliac
crest: the needle will travel through the latissimus dorsi aponeurosis before
entering the quadratus lumborum.
(2) The 2nd lumbar vertebra level is identified and the needle is inserted three
fingers breadth lateral to the spinous process. The needle will travel through the
latissimus aponeurosis and the erector spinae before entering the muscle. The
needle insertion is easy to feel due to the thickness and toughness of the lumbar
aponeurosis, which helps to notice where the tip of the needle may be at any
given time.
Pitfalls: (1) If the electrode is too superficial it will be in the latissimus dorsi; if too medial it
will be in the erector spinae; if too lateral it will be in the internal oblique. If too
deep it may enter the abdominal cavity.
(2) If electrode is too superficial it will be in the erector spinae; if too deep it will be
either in the medial psoas muscle or in the retroperitoneal renal space. If too
medial it will be in the multifidus; if too lateral it will be in the renal space.
Functional test: Subject is asked to laterally bend the body, or to lift the hemipelvis on the
ipsilateral side.
Suggested Readings
Andersson EA, Gundstrom H, Thorstensson A (2002). Diverging intramuscular activity patterns in back and abdominal
muscles during trunk rotation. Spine 15, 152-160.
Andersson EA, Oddsson LI, Gundstrom H, Nilsson J, Thorstensson A (1996). EMG activities of the quadratus lumborum
and erector spinae muscles during flexion-relaxation and other motor tasks. Clin Biomech 11, 392-400.
McGill S, Juker D, Kropf P. (1996). Quantitative intramuscular myoelectric activity of quadratus lumborum during a wide
variety of tasks. Clin Biomech 11, 170-172.
Transversus abdominis
A B
Fig. 41 A. Location of needle insertion into transversus abdominis, B. View of transversus abdominis after removal of
external and internal oblique
The transversus abdominis muscle is a muscle layer of the anterior and lateral abdominal wall which is
just below the internal oblique muscle. It is a major muscle of the functional core of the human body.
Proximal attachment: Aponeurosis of the posterior and anterior rectus sheath and the conjoined tendon
to the public crest and the pectineal line.
Distal attachment: Costal margin, the lumbar fascia, the anterior two-thirds of iliac crest, and the
lateral half of the inguinal ligament.
Innervation: Ventral primary rami of T7 to T12; conjoined tendon is supplied by the ilioinguinal
nerve (L1).
Blood supply: Branches from the lower two or three posterior intercostals arteries and the
subcostal artery.
Action: (1) Supports the abdominal wall. Agonists: rectus abdominis, pyramidalis, external
oblique, and internal oblique; Antagonist: none.
(2) Forced expiration. Agonist: serratus posterior inferior; Antagonist: serratus
posterior superior, levatores costarum breves, and levatores costarum longi.
Rectus abdominis, external and internal oblique assist with force expiration.
Electrode insertion: Fine wire electrodes are inserted immediately adjacent to the eighth costal
cartilage in the upper region of the transversus abdominis, halfway between the
iliac crest and lower border of the rib cage in the middle region of transversus
abdominis, obliquus internus abdominis and obliquus externus abdominis, and
adjacent to the anterior superior iliac spine in the lower region of transversus
abdominis and obliquus internus abdominis.
Functional test: Subject is asked to laterally bend the body, or to lift the hemipelvis on the
ipsilateral side.
Suggested Readings
Carpenter MG, Tokuno CD, Thorstensson A, Cresswell AG. Differential control of abdominal muscles during multi-
directional support-surface translations in man. Exp Brain Res 188, 445-455, 2008.
Hodges PW, Gandevia SC, Richardson CA. Contractions of specific abdominal muscles in postural tasks are affected by
respiratory maneuvers. J Appl Physiol 83: 753-760, 1997.
Hodges PW, Richardson CA. Feedforward contraction of transversus abdominis is not influenced by the direction of arm
movement. Exp Brain Res 114: 362-370, 1997.
Hodges PW, Pengel LHM, Herbert RD, Gandevia SC. Measurement of muscle contraction with ultrasound imaging.
Muscle Nerve 27, pp. 682-692, 2003.
Urquhart DM, Hodges PW. Differential activity of regions of transversus abdominis during trunk rotation. Eur Spine J 14,
pp. 393-400, 2005.
Rectus Femoris
A B
Fig. 42 A. Location of needle insertion into rectus femoris, B. View of rectus femoris after removal of sartorius muscle
and tensor fascie latae. ASIS = Anterior Superior Iliac Spine
The rectus femoris muscle is one of the four quadriceps muscles. The others are vastus medialis, vastus
intermedius (deep to the rectus femoris), and the vastus lateralis.
Proximal attachment: Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine.
Distal attachment: The quadriceps tendon along with the three vastus muscles, enveloping the
patella, then by the patellar ligament into the tibial tuberosity.
Innervation: Femoral Nerve, Posterior Division Lumbar Plexus, L3, L4.
Blood supply: Femoral artery and branches from the profunda femoris artery.
Action: Extension of the leg at the knee. Agonists: vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and
vastus intermedius; Antagonist: biceps femoris (long and short head),
semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.
Electrode insertion: The anterior thigh midway between the anterior superior border of the patella and
the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS).
Pitfalls: If the electrode is inserted too medially it will be in the vastus intermedius; if
inserted too laterally it will be in the vastus lateralis; if inserted too distally and
medially it will be in the vastus medialis.
Functional test: Subject flexes the hip with the knee extended.
Subject with fine wire electrode in rectus femoris muscle.

Surface electrodes are placed over the muscle.
Subject performing forward/backward steps with one leg. Channel 1 shows surface EMG activity, Channel 2
fine wire EMG activity of the rectus femoris. The bars on the lower right indicate the EMG and force values
during the contraction.
Subject walking on a treadmill. Channel 1 shows surface EMG activity of the Rectus Femoris; Channel 2
fine wire EMG activity of the rectus femoris; and Channel 3 shows foot switch activities. The bars on the
lower right indicate the EMG values during the gait cycle.
Suggested Readings
Annaswamy TM, Giddings CJ, Croce UD, Kerrigan DC. Rectus Femoris: Its role in normal gait. Archives of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation 80: 930-934, 1999.
Jacobsen WC, Gabel RH, Brand RA. Surface vs. Fine wire electrode ensemble-averaged signals during gait. J
Electromyogr Kinesiol 5: 37-44, 1955.
Nene A, Byrne C, Hermens H. Is rectus femoris really a part of quadriceps? Assessment of rectus femoris function
during gait in able-bodied adults. Gait and Posture 20: 1-13, 2004.
Vastus intermedius
A B
Fig. 43 A. Location of needle insertion into vastus intermedius, B. View of vastus intermedius after removal of overlying
muscles
The vastus intermedius arises from the front and lateral surfaces of the body of the femur in its upper two-
thirds and from the lower part of the lateral intermuscular septum. Its fibers end in a superficial aponeurosis,
which forms the deep part of the quadriceps tendon.
Proximal attachment: Anterior and lateral aspects of the upper two-thirds of the femoral shaft and the
lower part of the lateral intermuscular septum of the femur.
Distal attachment: Into the quadriceps tendon along with rectus femoris and the other vastus
muscles, enveloping the patella, then by the patellar ligament into the tibial
tuberosity.
Innervation: Femoral nerve, posterior division lumbar plexus, L3, L4.
Blood supply: Femoral artery and branches of the profunda femoris artery.
Action: Extension of the leg at the knee. Agonist: vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and
rectus femoris. Antagonist: biceps femoris (long and short heads),
semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.
Tensor fasciae latae assists with extension of the knee through the iliotibial band.
Electrode insertion: The anterior thigh midway between the anterior superior iliac spine and the patella
and under the rectus femoris
Pitfalls: If the fine wire electrode is inserted too superficially it will be in the rectus femoris;
if inserted too laterally it will be in the vastus lateralis; if inserted too medially it will
be in the vastus medialis or sartorius.
Functional test: Subject in supine posture lifts heel from bench with knee extended.
Suggested Readings
rd
Montgomery WH 3 , Pink M, Perry J. Electromyographic analysis of hip and knee musculature during running. Am J
Sports Med 22, 272-278,1994.
Powers CM, Landel R, Perry J. Timing and intensity of vastus muscle activity during functional activities in subjects with
and without Patellofemoral pain. Phy Ther 76, 946-955,1996.
Iliopsoas
Fig. 44 Location of needle insertion into iliopsoas
The term iliopsoas refers to three muscles: psoas major, psoas minor, iliacus.
Origin: Iliac fossa; base of sacrum, and lumbar spine.
Insertion: Lesser trochanter on the shaft of the femur, anteromedially.
Innervation: Femoral Nerve, L1, L2.
Blood supply: Medial femoral circumflex artery, iliolumbar artery.
Action: Flexes and internally rotates thigh.
Electrode insertion: Two finger widths lateral to the femoral artery pulse and one finger width below
the inguinal ligament.
Pitfalls: If the needle electrode is inserted too medially it will contact the neurovascular
bundle; if inserted too laterally it will be in the sartorius.
Functional test: Subject to flex the thigh with the knee flexed beyond ninety degrees.
Suggested Readings
Juker D, McGill S, Kropf P, Steffen T. Quantitative intramuscular myoelectric activity of lumbar portions of psoas and the
abdominal wall during a wide variety of tasks. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30 (2), 301-310,1998.
LaBan MM, Raptou AD, Johnson EW. Electromyographic study of function of iliopsoas muscle. Arch Phys Med Rehabil
46, 676-679, 1965.
Tibialis Posterior
A B
Fig. 45 A. Location of needle insertion into tibialis posterior, B. View of tibialis posterior after removal of surface
muscles
The tibialis posterior is the most central of the lower leg muscles. It is a key stabilizer of the lower leg.
Proximal attachment: Posterior surface of the interosseous membrane and the adjacent sides of the
tibia and fibula for the upper two-thirds of the attachment.
Distal attachment: On its way into the foot, on the posterior side of the ankle, the tendon of tibialis
posterior makes a groove in the posterior groove in the posterior side of the
medial malleolus just anteromedial to the groove made by flexor digitorum longus.
In the foot, the tendon divides into two: a larger superficial division and a more
tendinous lateral band. The superficial division attaches to the tuberosity of the
navicular with fibers continuing to the inferior surface of the medial cuneiform. The
deeper lateral division sends attachments to the second cuneiform and the bases
of the second, third, and fourth metatarsals.
Innervation: Tibial nerve (L4, L5).
Blood supply: Branches from the anterior and posterior tibial arteries.
Action: Inversion of the foot at the subtalar joint. Agonist: tibialis anterior; Antagonist:
Peroneus longus and brevis.
Electrode insertion: 1 cm medial to the margin of the tibia at the junction of the upper two-thirds with
the lower third of the shaft; direct the needle obliquely through the soleus and
flexor digitorum muscles.
Pitfalls: If the needle electrode is inserted too superficially it will be in the soleus or flexor
digitorum longus; if inserted too deeply it will be in the tibialis anterior.
Functional test: Subject to invert foot in plantar flexion.
Suggested Readings
Chapman AR, Vicenzino B, Blanch P, Hodges PW (2008). Patterns of leg muscle recruitment vary between novice and
highly trained cyclists. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 18, 359-371.
Murley GS, Buldt AK, Trump PJ, Wickham JB (2008). Tibialis posterior EMG activity during barefoot walking in people
with neutral foot posture. Journal of Electromyography 27, ahead of print.
Peroneus Longus
A B
Fig. 46 A. Location of needle insertion into peroneus longus, B. View of tibialis posterior after removal of surface
muscles.
The peroneus longus is a superficial muscle in the lateral compartment of the leg.
Proximal attachment: Head and proximal two-thirds of the lateral surface of the fibula, and the anterior
and posterior intermuscular septa of the leg.
Distal attachment: The tendon of peroneus longus runs obliquely forward across the lateral side of
the calcaneus, below the peroneal trochlea and the tendon of peroneaus brevis,
and beneath the inferior peroneal retinaculum. The tendon crosses the lateral side
of the cuboid and then runs under it in a groove converted into a canal by the long
plantar ligament. It continues across the sole of the foot obliquely. The tendon of
peroneus longus attaches by two slips to the lateral side of the base of the first
metatarsal and the medial cuneiform.
Innervation: Superficial fibular (peroneal) nerve (L5, S1).
Blood supply: Branches from the posterior tibial artery.
Action: Eversion of the foot at the subtalar joint. Agonist: peroneus brevis; Antagonist:
tibialis anterior and posterior.
Electrode insertion: Three finger breadths below the fibular head directed toward the lateral aspect of
the fibula.
Pitfalls: If the needle electrode is inserted too posteriorly it will be in the soleus; if inserted
too anteriorly it will be in the extensor digitorum longus.
Functional test: Subject to plantar flex and evert the foot.

Suggested Readings
Kadaba MP, Wooten ME, Gainey J, Cochran GV. Repeatability of phasic muscle activity: performance of surface and
intramuscular wire electrodes in gait analysis. J Orthop Res 3, 350-359,1985.
Walmsley RP. Electromyographic study of phasic activity of peroneus longus et brevis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 58, 65-
69,1977.
References
Adrian ED. Interpretation of the electromyogram. Lancet, June 13, 1229-1233. 1925
Alizadehkhaiyat O, Fisher AC, Kemp GJ, Frostik SP. Strength and fatigability of selected muscles in
upper limb: Assessing muscle imbalance relevant to tennis elbow. Journal of Electromyography and
Kinesiology 17: 428-436, 2007.
Andersson EA, Gundstrom H, Thorstensson A. Diverging intramuscular activity patterns in back and
abdominal muscles during trunk rotation. Spine 15, 152-160. 2002
Andersson EA, Oddsson LI, Gundstrom H, Nilsson J, Thorstensson A. EMG activities of the quadratus
lumborum and erector spinae muscles during flexion-relaxation and other motor tasks. Clin Biomech 11,
392-400. 1996
Annaswamy TM, Giddings CJ, Croce UD, Kerrigan DC. Rectus Femoris: Its role in normal gait. Archives
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 80: 930-934, 1999.
Basmajian JV, De Luca CJ. Muscles Alive. Baltomore, Md: Williams & Wilkins.1985
Bitter NL, Clisby EF, Jones MA, Magarey ME, Jaberzadeh, Sandow MJ. Relative contributions of
infraspinatus and deltoid during external rotation in healthy shoulders. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow
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Blanton PL, Lehr RP, Moreland JE, Biggs NL. Observations on the histologic response of rat skeletal
muscle to EMG indwelling wire electrodes. Electromyography 11: 465-474. 1971a
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muscle to EMG fine- wire electrodes: significance of insulation. Electromyography 11, 475-478. 1971b
Calancie C, Bawa P. Voluntary and reflexive recruitment of flexor carpi radialis motor units in humans.
Journal of Neurophysiology 53. 1194-1200, 1985.
Carpenter MG, Tokuno CD, Thorstensson A, Cresswell AG. Differential control of abdominal muscles
during multi-directional support-surface translations in man. Experimental Brain Research 188, 445-455,
2008.
Carpentier A, Duchateau J, Hainaut K. Motor unit behaviour and contractile changes during fatigue in the
human first dorsal interosseus. Journal of Physiology 534, 903-912. 2001
Chae J, Knutson J, Hart R, Fang ZP. Selectivity and sensitivity of intramuscular and trancutaneous
electromyography electrodes. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 80: 374-379, 2001.
Chapman AR, Vicenzino B, Blanch P, Hodges PW. Patterns of leg muscle recruitment vary between
novice and highly trained cyclists. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 18, 359-371. 2008
Christou EA, Poston B, Enoka JA, Enoka RM. Different neural adjustments improve endpoint accuracy
with practice in young and old adults. Journal of Neurophysiology 97: 3340-3350, 2007.
Delagi EF, Perotto AO. Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C.
Thomas. 1994
Enoka RM, Robinson GA, Kossev AR. A stable, selective electrode for recording single motor-unit
potential in humans. Experimental Neurology 99, 761-764.1988
Finsen L, Søgaard K, Graven-Nielsen T, Christensen H. Activity patterns of wrist extensor muscles during
wrist extensions and deviations. Muscle Nerve 31: 242-251, 2005.
Freriks W, Hermens H, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G (1999). The recommendations for sensors and sensor
placement procedures for surface electromyography. In H Hermans, B Freriks, R Merletti, D Stegeman, J
Blok, C Rau, Disselhorst-Klug, G Hägg (Eds.), European Recommendations for Surface Electromyography
(pp. 15-53). Enschede, The Netherlands; Roessingh Research and Development b.v.
Fuglesang-Frederiksen A. The utility of interference pattern analysis. Muscle & Nerve, 23, 18-36.2000
Herbert RD, Gandevia SC. Changes in pennation with joint angle and muscle torque: in vivo measurements
in human brachialis muscle. Journal of Physiology 484: 523-532, 1995.
Hodges PW, Pengel LHM, Herbert RD, Gandevia SC. Measurement of muscle contraction with ultrasound
imaging. Muscle Nerve 27, 682-692. 2003
Hodges PW, Gandevia SC, Richardson CA. Contractions of specific abdominal muscles in postural tasks
are affected by respiratory maneuvers. Journal of Applied Physiology 83: 753-760, 1997.
Hodges PW, Richardson CA. Feedforward contraction of transversus abdominis is not influenced by the
direction of arm movement. Experimental Brain Research 114, 362-370. 1997
Jacobsen WC, Gabel RH, Brand RA. Surface versus Fine wire electrode ensemble-averaged signals
during gait. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 5: 37-44, 1955.
Jonsson B, Omfeldt M, Rundgren A. Discomfort from the use of wire electrodes for electromyography.
Electromyography 8, 5-17. 1968
Juker D, McGill S, Kropf P, Steffen T. Quantitative intramuscular myoelectric activity of lumbar portions of
psoas and the abdominal wall during a wide variety of tasks. Medicine Science Sports Exercise 30 (2), 301-
310,1998.
Kadaba MP, Wooten ME, Gainey J, Cochran GV. Repeatability of phasic muscle activity: performance of
surface and intramuscular wire electrodes in gait analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 3, 350-359,
1985.
Kimura J. Electrodiagnosis in Diseases of Nerve and Muscle: Principles and Practice. 2nd ed. Philadelphia,
Pa: FA Davis Co. 1988
Klass M, Baudry S, Duchateau J. Age-related decline in rate of torque development is accompanied by
lower maximal motor unit discharge frequency during fast contractions. Journal of Applied Physiology 104,
739-746. 2008
LaBan MM, Raptou AD, Johnson EW. Electromyographic study of function of iliopsoas muscle. Archives
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 46, 676-679, 1965.
Lebedev MA. Impairment of human soleus motor units during ischemia. Journal of Electromyography and
Kinesiology 1, 244-249. 1991
Maluf KS, Shinohara M, Stephenson JL, Enoka RM. Muscle activation and time to task failure differ with
load type and contraction intensity for a human hand muscle. Experimental Brain Research 167: 165-177,
2005.
McGill S, Juker D, Kropf P. Quantitative intramuscular myoelectric activity of quadratus lumborum during a
wide variety of tasks. Clin Biomech 11, 170-172. 1996.
Merletti R, & Parker PA (2004). Electromyography. Physiology, Engineering, and Noninvasive Applications.
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2004
Montgomery WH 3rd, Pink M, Perry J. Electromyographic analysis of hip and knee musculature during
running. American Journal of Sports Medicine 22, 272-278,1994.
Morris AD, Kemp GJ, Lees A, Frostic SP. A study of the reproducibility of three different normalisation
methods in intramuscular dual fine wire electromyography of the shoulder. Journal of Electromyography and
Kinesiology 8: 317-322, 1998.
Moseley GL, Hodges PW, Gandevia SC. Deep and superficial fibers of the lumbar multifidus muscle are
differentially active during voluntary arm movements. Spine 27: 29-36, 2002.
Mottram CJ, Maluf KS, Stephenson JL, Anderson MK, Enoka RM. Prolonged vibration of the biceps
brachii tendon reduces time to failure when maintaining arm position with a submaximal load. Journal of
Neurophysiology 95, 1185-1193. 2006
Murley GS, Buldt AK, Trump PJ, Wickham JB. Tibialis posterior EMG activity during barefoot walking in
people with neutral foot posture. Journal of Electromyography 27, 2008 (ahead of print)
Nene A, Byrne C, Hermens H. Is rectus femoris really a part of quadriceps? Assessment of rectus femoris
function during gait in able-bodied adults. Gait and Posture 20: 1-13, 2004.
Van Oudenaarde E, Oostendorp RA. Functional relationship between the abductor pollicis longus and
abductor pollicis brevis muscles: an EMG analysis. Journal of Anatomy 186, 509-515. 1995
Palmerud G, Forsman M, Sporrong H, Herberts P, Kadefors R. Intramuscular pressure of the infra- and
supraspinatus muscles in relation to hand load and arm posture. European Journal of Applied Physiology 83:
223-230, 2000.
Poston B, Enoka JA, Enoka RM. Endpoint accuracy for a small and a large hand muscle in young and old
adults during rapid, goal-directed isometric contractions. Experimental Brain Research 187: 373-385, 2008.
Powers CM, Landel R, Perry J. Timing and intensity of vastus muscle activity during functional activities in
subjects with and without Patellofemoral pain. Physical Therapy 76, 946-955,1996.
Sanders DB, Stålberg EV, Nandedkar SD. Analysis of the electromyographic interference pattern. Journal
of Clinical Neurophysiology, 13, 385-400. 1996
Türker KS. Electromyography: Some Methodological Problems and Issues. Physical Therapy, 73, 57-67.
1993
Rainoldi A, Melchiorri G, Caruso I. A method for positioning electrodes during surface EMG recordings in
lower limb muscles. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 15, 37-43. 2003
Riek S, Carson RG, Wright A. A new technique for the selective recording of extensor carpi radialis longus
and brevis EMG. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 10: 249-253, 2000.
Rudroff T, Barry BK, Stone AL, Barry CJ, Enoka RM. Accessory muscle activity contributes to the
variation in time to task failure for different arm postures and loads. Journal of Applied Physiology 102: 1000-
1006, 2007.
Rudroff T, Christou EA, Poston B, Bojsen-Møller J, Enoka RM. Time to failure of a sustained contraction
is predicted by target torque and initial electromyographic bursts in elbow flexor muscles. Muscle Nerve 35:
657-666, 2007b.
Rudroff T, Enoka JA, Jordan K, Enoka RM. Motor unit discharge rate declines when supporting an inertial
load with the forearm supinated. Society for Neuroscience, 38th Annual Meeting. 2007c
Rudroff T, Staudenmann D, Enoka RM. Electromyographic measures of muscle activation and changes in
muscle architecture of human elbow flexors during fatiguing contractions. Journal of Applied Physiology 104:
1720-1726, 2008.
Shi J, Zheng YP, Chen X, Huang QH. Assessment of muscle fatigue using sonography: Muscle thickness
change detected from ultrasound images. Medical Engineering & Physics 29, 472-479. 2006
Urquhart DM, Hodges PW. Differential activity of regions of transversus abdominis during trunk rotation.
European Spine Journal 14, pp. 393-400, 2005.
Van Cutsem M, Duchateau J, Hainaut K. Changes in single motor unit behaviour contribute to the increase
in contraction speed after dynamic training in humans. Journal of Physiology 513, 295-305. 1998.
Van Oudenaarde E, Oostendorp RA. Functional relationship between the abductor pollicis longus and
abductor pollicis brevis muscles: an EMG analysis. Journal of Anatomy 186, 509-515,1995.
Vasseljen O, Dahl HH, Mork PJ, Torp HG. Muscle activity onset in the lumbar multifidus muscle recorded
simultaneously by ultrasound imaging and intramuscular electromyography. Clinical Biomechanics 21: 905-
913, 2006.
Walmsley RP. Electromyographic study of phasic activity of peroneus longus et brevis. Arch Phys Med
Rehabil 58, 65-69,1977.
Recommended Books
Enoka RM Perotto A
Neuromechanics of Anatomical Guide for

Human Movement. the Electrromyopher:
limbs and trunk
Human Kinetics
Champaign (2008) Thomas Books Illionis (1994)
Kernell D
J.V. Basmajian; C.J. De Luca

The Motoneurone and
its Muscle Fibres.
Muscles Alive
Oxford, Great Britain:
Their Function Revealed by
Oxford University Press (2006)
Electromyography.
Williams Wilkins
Baltimore (1985)
Merletti R & Parker PA 8) Perry J
Electromyography. Gait Analysis

Physiology,
Engineering, Normal and Pathological
and Noninvasive Function.
Applications.
Slack Thorofare (1992)
Hoboken, NJ: Wiley (2004)
Dr. Peter Konrad
The ABC of EMG

A Practical Introduction to
Kinesiological Electromyography
Free download booklet addressing
the most important topics and
operational steps to plan and
perform kinesiological EMG
studies.
Download The ABC of EMG at:
www.noraxon.com/emg/emg.php3
EMG Guidelines, Societies, Search Links
The International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK)
Web Link: http://isek.bu.edu/

“The International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK) is a
multidisciplinary organization composed of members from all over the world in health-
related fields and basic science with a common desire to study human movement
and the neuromuscular system”. The webpage contains important links, journals,
congress dates and addresses for electromyographers. The very important “ISEK
Standards of Reporting EMG Data” can be found under:
http://isek.bu.edu/publications/standards/emg_standards.html
The European Recommendations for Surface Electromyography (SENIAM)
Web Link: http://www.seniam.org/

The SENIAM project (Surface Electromyography for the Non-Invasive
Assessment of Muscles) is a European concerted action in the Biomedical
Health and Research Program (BIOMED II) of the European Union. The
SENIAM project developed important guidelines for EMG measurements. The
results are published under:
Hermens H.J., Freriks B., Merletti R., Hägg G., Stegeman D.F., Blok J., Rau G.,
Disselhorst-Klug C. (1999) SENIAM 8: European Recommendations for Surface
ElectroMyoGraphy, Roessingh Research and Development b.v., ISBN 90-75452-15-2.
Freriks B., Hermens H.J. (1999) SENIAM 9: European Recommendations for Surface
ElectroMyoGraphy, results of the SENIAM project, Roessingh Research and Development b.v.,
1999, ISBN 90-75452-14-4 (CD-rom).
Pubmed – free access to Medline
Web Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
“PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine, includes over 15 million

citations for biomedical articles back to the 1950's. These citations are from
MEDLINE and additional life science journals. PubMed includes links to many
sites providing full text articles and other related resources”
Search engine Scholar Google
Web Link: http://scholar.google.com/
Powerful search engine for (EMG-) articles and publications

The World of Electromyography
Since 1989, Noraxon has been manufacturing and distributing high-end surface
electromyography (SEMG) and biomechanical sensor systems to research, sports
medicine, ergonomics and clinical professionals worldwide. Our systems meet the
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Version 1.0 Tel: (480) 443-3413 • Fax: (480) 443-4327 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.noraxon.com
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combined with the EMG/sensor recordings.
Numerous Ready-to-go Application Protocols
Noraxon’s latest MyoResearch XP software features many protocols, such as Gait

Analysis, Incontinence and Isokinetics, which perform immediate analysis with the
push of a few buttons! From Postural Analysis to Gait Analysis, from Manual
Muscle Function Tests to EMG Isokinetics, Noraxon’s unique protocol system
automatically guides you to meaningful results.
Noraxon U.S.A. Inc. • 13430 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 104 • Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Version 1.0 Tel: (480) 443-3413 • Fax: (480) 443-4327 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.noraxon.com

A Practical Introduction To Fine Wire EMG Applications

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Kinesiological Fine Wire EMG

Version 1.0 December 2008

Printed by Noraxon U.S.A, Inc.

Noraxon U.S.A. Inc.

General terms and conditions

Warranties and limitation of liability

About the Author

How to use this booklet

"Electromyography (EMG) is an experimental technique concerned with the development, recording

“..is the study of muscle function through the inquiry

Fig. 2 Basmajian &

Signal Origin and Acquisition

Use of fine wire EMG

- Extremely sensitive - Invasive

- Record single muscle activity - Repositioning nearly impossible

- Access to deep musculature - Small detection area

- Low concern of cross-talk - Minor discomfort

Un-isolated Steel Un-isolated Ending (red)

Fig. 5. Schematic of a fine wire

Amplifier and recording recommendations

Procedures for the use of fine wire EMG electrodes

Fig. 6 Preparation material for the insertion of

1. Sterile Latex Surgical Gloves

Fig. 7 Fine wire electrode.

• Put on the medical latex gloves

IF THE SUBJECT COMPLAINS OF DISCOMFORT OR PAIN AT ANY TIME DURING THE

Illustrated step by step scheme for electrode attachment

After skin preparation, if the experiment requires surface

After identification of the area of interest for the electrode

After marking the site, clean and disinfect the insertion

With medical gloves on, grasp the fine wire electrode by

Hold the needle between the thumb and index finger.

Place the end of the needle against the subject’s skin

Talk to the subject during the procedure and ensure that

When the appropriate depth has been reached, apply

Have the subject perform a light isometric contraction

Secure the fine wire electrode with tape.

Two models of fine wire pre amplifiers:

- Screw connectors (left)

- Spring connectors (right)

Alternative spring adapter for regular SEMG preamplifier

- floating spring adapter

- anchored spring adapter

Attach the wires to the connectors of the pre-amplifier.

Secure the pre-amplifier with tape. Ask the subject to

Check the quality of the EMG signals on the recording

• Place electrode wire(s) in biohazard sharps disposal container.

• Dispose of all other waste in the biohazard waste bin or bag.

Inflammation Symptom – Signs will include redness, swelling, pain or tenderness.

Vaso-vagal episode Symptom – Fainting

Verification of electrode location

Fine Wire Sites: Surface Sites:

Smaller face muscles

Smaller neck muscles

Transversus abd. Obliquus externus abdominis

Thin / deep shank muscles

Smaller foot muscles