Understanding sEMG

Elements of Biofeedback Therapy

• Scanning of the musculature

• Working with trigger points

• Identification and reduction of compensatory postures

• Differentiation between muscle tension and muscle shortening

• Static EMG measurements

• Dynamic EMG measurements

Biofeedback as...

• General relaxation training and stress management strategy

• A targeted technique to influence poor posture, muscular imbalances, and increased muscle tension in specific muscle groups

• Primary goal: Emphasizing self-initiative and self-regulation capabilities, and reducing helplessness, fear of movement, and avoidance or protective beh

• Slow twitch fibers
  – Responsible for maintaining tonic baseline and postural tension
  – Frequency range below 80 Hz

• Fast twitch fibers
  – Primarily serve phasic, strong, and fast movements
  – Frequency range 100–200 Hz

Psychophysiology

• Psychological stress is often accompanied by muscular tension as well as head, neck, shoulder, and lower back pain.

• Classical conditioning of tension and pain:
  – Pain leads to reflexive muscle tension and increased sympathetic activation. Due to the increased muscle tension and activation, the pain is further intensified or even trigg

Indications in the Motor System

• Tension headaches

• Cervical syndrome

• Temporomandibular dysfunction
  (dysregulation of muscle and jaw functions)

• Bruxism (teeth grinding)

• Back pain

• Urinary and fecal incontinence

• Postural disorders of the musculoskeletal system

• Muscle tics

• Writer’s cramp

• Spastic paralysis

• Neuromuscular rehabilitation in cases of paresis and spinal

Electrical Muscle Activity (EMG)

• Striated muscles are innervated by the somatic nervous system.

• This reaction system is therefore also voluntarily controlled.

• In addition, involuntary reactions occur, e.g., in connection with emotional experiences and psychological stress.

• The recording of electrical muscle activity is called electromyography.

• The recor

Muscle feedback. An electrornyograph (EMG) is used to detect and measure muscle activity. Once detected, the electrical activity of the target muscle, or muscles, is displayed (fed back) to the individual. The individual then tries to modify the EMG signal in the appropriate direction by relaxing tense muscles or activating muscles that are injured

In our research and practice, we use EMG training together with relaxation and imagery. This usually lasts about 20 min, during which the athlete is connected to the EMG feedback system and is able to fulfill the task of controlling EMG level