
Table of Contents
Declaration..........................................................................................................................ii
Acknowledgements............................................................................................................iii
Table of Contents................................................................................................................ v
List of Figures..................................................................................................................viii
List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... x
Abstract.............................................................................................................................. xi
Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Problem Statement .................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Aim of the Research.................................................................................................. 4
1.3 Outline of Thesis....................................................................................................... 4
Chapter 2............................................................................................................................. 6
Background and Literature Review .................................................................................... 6
2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 6
2.1.1 Anatomy and Physiology of Muscle.................................................................. 8
2.1.2 Motor Unit Action Potential (MUAP) ............................................................. 10
2.1.3 Muscle Studied- Biceps Brachii....................................................................... 11
2.2 Electromyography (EMG) ...................................................................................... 12
2.2.1 EMG – Anatomical and Physiological Background ........................................ 13
2.2.2 History of EMG ............................................................................................... 14
2.2.3 Surface EMG (SEMG) Signal.......................................................................... 17
2.2.4 SEMG and Fatigue........................................................................................... 17
2.3 Muscle Fatigue Analysis......................................................................................... 18
2.3.1 Effect of Fatigue on SEMG ............................................................................. 18
2.3.1.1 Isometric contractions............................................................................... 18
2.3.1.2 Cyclic / Dynamic contractions.................................................................. 21
2.3.2 Analysis of SEMG ........................................................................................... 24
2.3.3 Frequency Domain Analysis............................................................................ 25
2.3.4 Time Domain Analysis .................................................................................... 26
Chapter 3 Methodology .................................................................................................... 28
3.1 Experimental Methodology .................................................................................... 29
3.1.1 Participant Selection ........................................................................................ 29
3.1.2 Equipment and Software.................................................................................. 30
3.1.3 Experimental Protocol...................................................................................... 31
3.1.3.1 Isometric Contractions .............................................................................. 34
3.1.3.2 Cyclic Contractions................................................................................... 35