Mechanomyography-Based Metric Scale for Spasticity: A Pilot Descriptive Observational Study.

(1) Background: The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) is commonly used clinically to evaluate spasticity, but its qualitative nature introduces subjectivity. We propose a novel metric scale to quantitatively measure spasticity using mechanomyography (MMG) to mitigate these subjective effects. (2) Methods: The flexor and extensor muscles of knee and elbow joints were assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) during the acquisition of mechanomyography (MMG) data.

Fatigue in complete spinal cord injury and implications on total delay.

The use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to artificially restore movement in people with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) induces an accelerated process of muscle fatigue. Fatigue increases the time between the beginning of NMES and the onset of muscle force (Delay ). Understanding how much muscle fatigue affects the Delay in people with SCI could help in the design of closed-loop neuroprostheses that compensate for this delay, thus making the control system more stable.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Electrical Stimulation Frequency and Muscle Frequency Response Under Submaximal Contractions.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a common tool that is used in clinical and laboratory experiments and can be combined with mechanomyography (MMG) for biofeedback in neuroprostheses. However, it is not clear if the electrical current applied to neuromuscular tissues influences the MMG signal in submaximal contractions. The objective of this study is to investigate whether the electrical stimulation frequency influences the mechanomyographic frequency response of the rectus femoris muscle during submaximal contractions.

Cough detection through mechanomyographic signal in synchronized respiratory electrical stimulation systems.

Synchronization of transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation (TFES) with the spontaneous inspiration and expiration phases is a new approach for respiratory rehabilitation. One of the requirements for proper operation is the identification of cough events to automatically change the stimulation parameters in order to increase muscle strength during the cough. The aim of this work is to assess the viability in detection of cough events with a mechanomyographic (MMG) sensor on the abdominal region, and to evaluate if it can be used simultaneously with the synchronized TFES system.

Mechanomyography energy decreases during muscular fatigue in paraplegics.

The present work investigated the response of triaxial MMG signals acquired from the rectus femoris muscle of spinal cord injured volunteers during fatigue protocol electrically evoked. A custom functional electrical stimulator voltage-controlled was configured as: pulse frequency set to 1 kHz (20% duty cycle) and burst (modulating) frequency set to 70 Hz (20% active period). The triaxial MMG signal of rectus femoris muscle was processed with third-order 5-50 Hz bandpass Butterworth filter and the values were normalized.

A new approach to assess the spasticity in hamstrings muscles using mechanomyography antagonist muscular group.

Several pathologies can cause muscle spasticity. Modified Ashworth scale (MAS) can rank spasticity, however its results depend on the physician subjective evaluation. This study aims to show a new approach to spasticity assessment by means of MMG analysis of hamstrings antagonist muscle group (quadriceps muscle).

Correlation between mechanomyography features and passive movements in healthy and paraplegic subjects.

Mechanomyography (MMG) measures both muscular contraction and stretching activities and can be used as feedback in the control of neuroprostheses with Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). In this study we evaluated the correlation between MMG features and passive knee angular movement of rectus femoris and vastus lateralis muscles acquired from healthy volunteers (HV) and spinal cord injured volunteers (SCIV). Twelve HV and thirteen SCIV were submitted to passive and FES elicited knee extensions and in each extension, eleven windows of analysis with 0.

Investigation of muscle behavior during different functional electrical stimulation profiles using Mechanomyography.

Mechanomyography (MMG) is a technique for measuring muscle oscillations and fatigue. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been applied to control movements mainly in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The goal of this study is the application of the MMG signal as a tool to investigate muscle response during FES.

Mechanomyographic response during FES in healthy and paraplegic subjects.

Mechanomyography (MMG) registers lateral oscillations of contracting muscles. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) improves the rehabilitation of paraplegic subjects and can be used in neuroprosthesis control. During FES application, muscular contraction responses may vary, possibly due to fatigue or adaptation of nerve cells face to electrical stimuli.

Optimal FES parameters based on mechanomyographic efficiency index.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can artificially elicit movements in spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects. FES control strategies involve monitoring muscle features and setting FES profiles so as to postpone the installation of muscle fatigue or nerve cell adaptation. Mechanomyography (MMG) sensors register the lateral oscillations of contracting muscles.