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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / A Preliminary Study on the Use of HD-sEMG for the Functional...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(6); 785; doi: 10.3390/ani12060785

A Preliminary Study on the Use of HD-sEMG for the Functional Imaging of Equine Superficial Muscle Activation during Dynamic Mobilization Exercises.

Abstract: Superficial skeletal muscle activation is associated with an electric activity. Bidimensional High-Density Surface Electromyography (HD-sEMG) is a non-invasive technique that uses a grid of equally spaced electrodes applied on the skin surface to detect and portray superficial skeletal muscle activation. The goal of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of HD-sEMG to detect electrical activation of skeletal muscle and its application during rehabilitation exercises in horses. To fulfil this aim, activation of the superficial descending pectoral and external abdominal oblique core muscles were measured using HD-sEMG technology during dynamic mobilization exercises to induce lateral bending and flexion/extension tasks of the trunk. Masseter muscle was instrumented during mastication as a control condition. A 64 surface EMG channel wireless system was used with a single 64 electrode grid or a pair of 32 electrode grids. HD-sEMG provided unique information on the muscular activation onset, duration, and offset, along each motor task, and permitting inferences about the motor control strategy actuated by the central nervous system. Signals were further processed to obtain firing frequencies of few motor-neurons. Estimation of electromyographic amplitude and spectral parameters allowed detecting the onset of muscular fatigue during the motor tasks performed. HD-sEMG allows the assessment of muscular activation in horses performing specific motor tasks, supporting its future application in clinical and research settings.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-20 PubMed ID: 35327182PubMed Central: PMC8944866DOI: 10.3390/ani12060785Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research focuses on a non-invasive technique, High-Density Surface Electromyography (HD-sEMG), which records muscle activities in horses during rehabilitation exercises, and provides valuable insights into the motor control strategy of their central nervous system.

Understanding High-Density Surface Electromyography (HD-sEMG)

  • HD-sEMG is a non-invasive technology that uses a grid of electrodes equally spaced and applied on the skin surface. This setup allows the detection and depiction of superficial skeletal muscle activation, which is linked with electric activity.
  • This technique is capable of providing unique information on muscle activation initiation, duration and cessation, particularly for specific motor tasks.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • The goal of the research was to evaluate whether HD-sEMG could detect the electrical activity associated with skeletal muscle activation during dynamic mobilization exercises in horses.
  • To achieve this, the researchers measured the activation of the superficial descending pectoral and external abdominal oblique core muscles during exercises that induced lateral bending and flexion of the trunk.
  • The masseter muscle was also instrumented during mastication, which served as a control condition.
  • The researchers deployed a wireless system featuring 64 surface EMG channels, using either a single 64-electrode grid or two 32-electrode grids.

Results and Observations

  • HD-sEMG proved its capability of providing unique data on the onset, duration and termination of muscle activation for each motor task, offering insights into the motor control strategy implemented by the horses’ central nervous system.
  • The signals received were further processed to determine the firing frequencies of a few motor neurons.
  • The researchers were able to assess the onset of muscle fatigue during the motor tasks performed, by estimating the amplitude of electromyography and spectral parameters.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The results of the research suggested that HD-sEMG could be used for assessing muscle activation in horses performing specific motor tasks.
  • This could potentially have significant applications in clinical and research settings, aiding in the design and implementation of effective rehabilitation exercises in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Gamucci F, Pallante M, Molle S, Merlo E, Bertuglia A. (2022). A Preliminary Study on the Use of HD-sEMG for the Functional Imaging of Equine Superficial Muscle Activation during Dynamic Mobilization Exercises. Animals (Basel), 12(6), 785. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060785

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 6
PII: 785

Researcher Affiliations

Gamucci, Fiorenza
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
Pallante, Marcello
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.
Molle, Sybille
  • Independent Researcher, DVM, Private Practice, 28100 Novara, Italy.
Merlo, Enrico
  • OT Bioelettronica S.r.l., 10134 Torino, Italy.
Bertuglia, Andrea
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Enrico Merlo is one of the founders of OTBioelettronica, Torino, Italy. This author had no role in the design of the study, analyses, and interpretation of data reported in the manuscript.

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