Surface Electromyography in Dentistry—Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a technique for measuring and analyzing the electrical signals of muscle activity using electrodes placed on the skin’s surface. The aim of this paper was to outline the history of the development and use of surface electromyography in dentistry, to show where research and technical solutions relating to surface electromyography currently lie, and to make recommendations for further research. sEMG is a diagnostic technique that has found significant application in dentistry. The historical section discusses the evolution of sEMG methods and equipment, highlighting how technological advances have influenced the accuracy and applicability of this method in dentistry. The need for standardization of musculoskeletal testing methodology is highlighted and the needed increased technical capabilities of sEMG equipment and the ability to specify parameters (e.g., sampling rates, bandwidth). A higher sampling rate (the recommended may be 2000 Hz or higher in masticatory muscles) allows more accurate recording of changes in the signal, which is essential for accurate analysis of muscle function. Bandwidth is one of the key parameters in sEMG research. Bandwidth determines the range of frequencies effectively recorded by the sEMG system (the recommended frequency limits are usually between 20 Hz and 500 Hz in masticatory muscles). In addition, the increased technical capabilities of sEMG equipment and the ability to specify electromyographic parameters demonstrate the need for a detailed description of selected parameters in the methodological section. This is necessary to maintain the reproducibility of sEMG testing. More high-quality clinical trials are needed in the future.

Pharmacologically Induced Accommodation Palsy and the Bioelectrical Activity of the Muscular System: A Preliminary Investigation

“…The sEMG test was conducted using the Noraxon Ultium DTS 8-K MR 3 myo Muscle Master Edition (Scottsdale, AZ, USA). The following muscles were analyzed: The skin above the muscles under study was cleansed with 90% alcohol [30]. Electrodes (Ag/AgCl with a conductive surface of 16 mm) were placed according to the requirements of the SENIAM program (Figure 2).…”

“…Patients had their eyes open during the examination. In the group with myopia, the sEMG study was conducted without refractive error correction during tests with opened eyes [30].…”

“…Recordings in the lying, standing, and sitting positions were obtained for the muscles BB, RA, and AEO. In each of these positions, a 10 s rest was recorded and during maximal voluntary contraction (2 × 5 s, with a 2 s rest between contractions) [28,30].…”

“…The hypothesis is that accommodation paralysis influences the bioelectric activity and electromyographic patterns of the muscular system. To standardize the results, electromyographic patterns were applied [29,30].…”

Compare the Quadriceps Activity between Mini-Midvastus and Mini-Medial Parapatellar Approach in Total Knee Arthroplasty with Electromyography

“…Through electrodes attached to the skin surface, surface EMG (sEMG) signals can be extracted and studied to assess muscle function in limb movements. sEMG, an instrument systematically developed and refined since the 20th century, finds extensive application in diverse fields analyzing muscle function, including rehabilitation, sports, stomatology, ophthalmology, gynecology, and more [28][29][30]. Accordingly, numerous studies have employed sEMG to capture and analyze motion and muscle activity around the knee joint, particularly focusing on the quadriceps [31][32][33].…”