A

Consensus for experimental design in electromyography (CEDE) project: Application of EMG to estimate muscle force

Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, vol. 79, pp. 102910

Abstract

Skeletal muscles power movement. Deriving the forces produced by individual muscles has applications across various fields including biomechanics, robotics, and rehabilitation. Since direct in vivo measurement of muscle force in humans is invasive and challenging, its estimation through non-invasive methods such as electromyography (EMG) holds considerable appeal. This matrix, developed by the Consensus for Experimental Design in Electromyography (CEDE) project, summarizes recommendations on the use of EMG to estimate muscle force. The matrix encompasses the use of bipolar surface EMG, high density surface EMG, and intra-muscular EMG (1) to identify the onset of muscle force during isometric contractions, (2) to identify the offset of muscle force during isometric contractions, (3) to identify force fluctuations during isometric contractions, (4) to estimate force during dynamic contractions, and (5) in combination with musculoskeletal models to estimate force during dynamic contractions. For each application, recommendations on the appropriateness of using EMG to estimate force and justification for each recommendation are provided. The achieved consensus makes clear that there are limited scenarios in which EMG can be used to accurately estimate muscle forces. In most cases, it remains important to consider the activation as well as the muscle state and other biomechanical and physiological factors- such as in the context of a formal mechanical model. This matrix is intended to encourage interdisciplinary discussions regarding the integration of EMG with other experimental techniques and to promote advances in the application of EMG towards developing muscle models and musculoskeletal simulations that can accurately predict muscle forces in healthy and clinical populations.

Authors 23

  1. The University of Queensland

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

  2. The University of Queensland

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

  3. The University of Queensland · Université Côte d'Azur · Laboratoire Motricité Humaine Éducation Sport Santé

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Université Côte d'Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France

    School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Université Côte d'Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France

  4. The University of Queensland

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

  5. Amsterdam Movement Sciences · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, Netherlands

  6. University of Colorado Boulder

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA

  7. University of Auckland

    Affiliation as printed

    Auckland Bioengineering Institute and Department of Engineering Science & Biomedical Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

  8. Queen's University Belfast · The University of Queensland · Trinity College Dublin

    Affiliation as printed

    Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK; School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK

    Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

  9. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA

  10. RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Rehabilitation and Prevention Engineering, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

  11. University of Birmingham

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain (CPR Spine), School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK

  12. Imperial College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK

  13. UNSW Sydney · Neuroscience Research Australia

    Affiliation as printed

    Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

  14. University of Maribor

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 46, Maribor, Slovenia

  15. The University of Sydney · Royal Prince Alfred Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia

  16. University College Dublin

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland

  17. United States Department of Veterans Affairs

    Affiliation as printed

    US Department of Veterans Affairs

  18. Politecnico di Torino

    Affiliation as printed

    LISiN, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy

  19. Northwestern University · Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

    Affiliation as printed

    Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA

    Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA

  20. UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology · University College London

    Affiliation as printed

    Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK

  21. University of Southern Denmark

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Clinical Research and Department of Sports Sciences and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

  22. The University of Melbourne

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

  23. Paul W. Hodges corresponding

    The University of Queensland

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Electronic address: p.hodges@uq.edu.au

    School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Cited by 24 stored of 24

No patents citing this paper on Lens.org (checked 2026-10-06).

References 92