Understanding sEMG

It should be noted that biofeedback has received a new lease of “sporting life” via its increasing application to the development of technical expertise. EMG biofeedback is increasingly used to aid the development and fine tuning of technique, especially when an optimum pattern has been identified

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

For example, nearly 60% of the studies reviewed by Zaichkowsky and Fuchs (1988) that ex- amined the effect of EMG biofeedback reported positive effects on performance. However,thereviewsof Petruzzello,Landers,and Salazar(1991)andCollins(1995

Biofeedback/Neurofeedback for Sleep Disorders

EMG Training
– Muscular relaxation of the muscle groups

• M. frontalis

• M. masseter

• M. trapezius
  combined with rhythmic breathing

SMR Training
Increase SMR (12–15 Hz)
Reduce Beta (16–20 Hz)
Reduce EMG (50–60 Hz)

Measurement of the electrical activity preceding muscle contraction is called elec- tromyography or EMG. EMG measures (in microvolts) the electrical energy dis- charged by the motor nerve endings signaling a muscle to contract.

One of the common aims in EMG biofeedback application is to evaluate the efficacy of EMG biofeedback training; that is, to verify that a mastery of self-regulation has been achieved for a given criterion. Several researchers (Blumenstein, Bar-Eli, & Tenenbaum, 1995, 1997a; Zaichkowsky & Fuchs, 1986) have proposed approximate guidelines, summarized

Tennis racket grip with EMG:

• Measure muscle tension when athlete is holding a tennis raquet and when their coach is holding tennis racket to change the grip

. Thus, for example, Krueger, Ruehl, Scheel, and Frdnz (1988)used EMG biofeedback to optimisetechnique with the new “wing” Kayak paddle, by encouraging greater use of the latissimus dorsi, the “wing” muscles on the back. These interdisciplinary approaches, which draw substantially from both motor learning and biomechanics, represent an exciting new