sEMG-Strain Integrated Patch for Monitoring Muscle Hyperextension during Exercise and Rehabilitation

Injuries sustained during exercise or rehabilitation intended to improve or restore physical performance can have significant and potentially serious consequences. Above all, injury prevention should be a crucial consideration during exercise and rehabilitation. One common cause of injury is muscle hyperextension, which occurs when muscles are stretched beyond their natural range of motion. Therefore, monitoring muscle movement and detecting hyperextension can be a valuable approach to injury prevention. In this study, we propose the use of an sEMG-strain integrated patch that can measure both sEMG and strain signals simultaneously, allowing for the evaluation of muscle hyperextension and presentation of muscle range of motion under load.
In this study, the cable triceps pushdown exercise was repeatedly performed at various angles while participants wore the sEMG-strain integrated patch. The EMG and strain signals were acquired simultaneously and analyzed to evaluate the movement status of the triceps muscles during exercise. This experiment was conducted using the sEMG device and the sEMG-Strain integrated patch developed by SMDsolutions Co., Ltd.
Through the analysis of the difference and change trend between sEMG and strain signals acquired from the sensor, we were able to discern the ideal range of motion for each specific activity. We plotted the signals on a graph based on the range of motion and divided them into three distinct regions: the normal region, the potential risk region, and the risk region. We developed an algorithm that integrates sEMG and strain signals, and demonstrated its effectiveness in distinguishing hyperextension, which could not be detected using a single signal. These algorithms can also identify exercises that have the potential to cause injury and suggest appropriate ranges of motion to prevent such injuries.
Based on the findings, the sEMG-Strain integrated patch was demonstrated to be effective in monitoring muscle hyperextension and setting the optimal range of motion during exercise and rehabilitation to prevent injury. The application of sEMG-Strain fusion signals offers numerous possibilities for enhancing physical therapy and sports medicine. If widely implemented, it has the potential to facilitate significant advancements in these fields.