Surface electromyography in ballistic movement: a comparative methodological analysis from taekwondo athletes (Electromiografía de superficie en movimientos balísticos: un análisis metodológico comparativo en atletas de taekwondo)

Abstract

Surface electromyography (sEMG) signal processing methods used to assess combat sports are heterogeneous. This research aims to compare the electromyography peak (peak EMG) in taekwondo athletes with five processing methods. Secondarily, the coefficient of variation (CV) and the noise percentage regarding the peak EMG (NPRP) were compared. The sEMG record of eight leg muscles of sixteen athletes (12 male and 4 female, ages 20.31+4.1 years) was consulted. The processing methods were: a) Smoothing 1, b) Smoothing 2, c) Root mean square (RMS) 1, d) RMS 2, and e) Empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Results indicate that the peak EMG differs among Smoothing 1 vs. EMD; Smoothing 2 vs. EMD; Smoothing 1 vs. RMS 2; Smoothing 2 vs. RMS 2; Smoothing 1 vs. RMS 1; RMS 1 vs. RMS 2; RMS 1 vs. EMD, and RMS 2 vs. EMD. For all cases p