An integrated computer-based system to study neuromuscular disorders of the upper limb

Abstract

A multi-channel computer-based clinical instrument was developed to simultaneously acquire, process, display, quantify and correlate electromyographic (EMG) activity, resistive torque, range of motion (ROM), and pain levels in the upper limbs of humans. Each channel consisted of a time and frequency domain block, a torque and angle measurement block, an experiment number counter block and a data storage and retrieval block. The study showed that there was increased level of EMG activity prior to pain onset (P<0.05). There was also clear evidence that elevated perception of pain and elevated levels of resistive torque (P<0.05) were positively correlated with the EMG activity in the muscles responsible for antalgic posture of the upper limb (P<0.05).