The use of mono- and bi-dimensional electromyogram (EMG) electrode arrays for the assessment of the neuromuscular system can provide an insight into muscle physiology not achieved with classical bipolar surface EMG. Among the advantages of multichannel EMG detection, there is a) the possibility of estimating muscle fibre conduction velocity, even during motor tasks, and b) the possibility to increase the number of detection points on a muscle, improving the performance of pattern-based EMG decomposition methods. For these reasons, the development and use of multichannel surface EMG devices and techniques were chosen as the primary goals within the European RTD Project 'Neuromuscular assessment in the elderly worker' (NEW). The specific requirements of Project NEW called for the availability of a user-friendly, small-sized EMG acquisition system for field use, suitable for multichannel EMG recording using electrode arrays from one or more muscles. A market survey established that none of the commercially available EMG acquisition systems featured all the desired specifications, nor could they be easily adapted for specific use. The paper describes the design of an innovative acquisition system for long-term multichannel EMG recording fulfilling these requirements and comprising adhesive electrode arrays for artifact-free EMG acquisition during work activity and a portable, user-friendly, battery-powered acquisition system for multichannel EMG recording and storage on a removable PCMCIA card. The system has been used extensively within Project NEW for laboratory and field tests and can find applications in other fields of basic and applied research, including ergonomics, occupational and sports medicine.
The problemRepetitive strain injuries (RSI) and cumulative trauma disorders (CTD) in the aging working population cause pain, slowing of responses, increased probability of accidents, reduced quality of life and working ability. As a consequence, a substantial number of elderly people are forced into early retirement, and then fail to be self-supporting. There is a need to identify and monitor workrelated neuromuscular disorders in order to (a) prevent and reduce their consequences by providing greater protection to the most vulnerable individuals, (b) identify the correlations between neuromuscular aging and occupational conditions and (c) develop and evaluate methods for assessing the conditions of the neuromuscular system and for warning when they may be leading to pathology (e.g., insufficient relaxation in vulnerable muscles, chronic fatigue, etc.).in Europe, it is estimated that 4.1 million people suffer from work-related disorders in the musculoskeletal system. The prevalence is higher in the health and social sector and among 55-64 year olds. Of the estimated 350 million working days lost annually due to work-related health problems, musculoskeletal disorders represent about half (DUPRI~, 2001). in the UK, 0.5 million workers are affected by cumulative trauma disorders and repetitive strain injuries and 5.4 million workdays are lost every year for this reason, with an economic impact between 0.5 and 2% of the GNP. British companies who adopted measures to reduce these cases obtained a return of the order of 17 times their investment in a few years (source: RSI Association, 380-384
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