Integrated biosignal data analysis for performance assessment

生物信号为了解人体的基本功能提供了一个窗口。人体运动涉及从大脑传输控制信号以激活骨骼肌，骨骼肌反过来收缩并产生力和运动。肌肉内的激活信号被检测并记录为肌电图（EMG）。鉴于激活和力之间的联系，已经产生了大量关于从记录的EMG预测力的工作。我们已经开发了基于单站点记录的EMG力模型，最近在多站点高密度EMG记录上，其中在所研究的肌肉的大表面积上检测到肌肉激活。然而，这些模型仍然受到肌肉激活的不完整图片的限制。同样，我们无法直接测量单个肌肉的输出力（作为替代，测量关节力矩，其中力矩由跨关节作用的几块肌肉控制）。只有在高度受限的，通常是等距（恒定位置）的实验条件下，才能实现合理的力估计。这部分是因为肌肉激活会随着姿势的变化而变化，从而改变系统的生物力学。我们的工作集中在基于肌电图的预测力的手肘关节，在健康的人，使用先进的信号处理和系统建模技术。为了推进我们的工作，在不太受限制的动态条件下开发准确可靠的力预测，我们将在我们的力预测模型中明确包括有关肢体生物力学以及肌肉激活如何协调的信息。我们开发的创新信号处理技术和模型结构将有助于我们对正常肌肉功能和控制的基本理解。在这项工作的过程中，六个研究生和四个本科生将在肌电信号数据的采集培训，并使用先进的处理和建模技术。我们的研究结果将直接适用于人体工程学，运动和康复问题，为加拿大和加拿大人提供重大利益。

Biological signals provide a window into essential functions in the human body. Human movement involves transmission of control signals from the brain to activate skeletal muscles, which in turn, contract and generate force and movement. The activation signal within the muscle is detected and recorded as the electromyogram (EMG). Given the connection between activation and force, an extensive body of work on predicting force from recorded EMG has been generated. We have developed EMG-force models based on single site recordings, and more recently on multi-site high-density EMG recordings, in which muscle activation is detected over a large surface area of the muscle under study. These models, however, are still limited by an incomplete picture of the muscle activation. As well, we are unable to directly measure output forces for individual muscles (as a surrogate, joint moment is measured, where the moment is controlled by several muscles acting across the joint). Reasonable force estimation has been achieved only under highly restricted, usually isometric (constant position), experimental conditions. This is in part because muscle activation changes with postural changes, which alter the biomechanics of the system.***Our work has focussed on EMG-based prediction of forces about the elbow joint, in healthy individuals, using advanced signal processing and system modeling techniques. In order to advance our work to develop accurate and reliable force prediction under less restricted, dynamic conditions, we will explicitly include information on the biomechanics of the limb, and on how muscle activation is coordinated, in our force prediction models. The innovative signal processing techniques and model structures that we develop will contribute to our fundamental understanding of normal muscle function and control. In the course of this work, six graduate and four undergraduate students will be trained in the acquisition of EMG data, and the use of advanced processing and modeling techniques. The results of our research will be directly applicable to problems in ergonomics, athletics, and rehabilitation, providing significant benefits to Canada and Canadians.***