AN ALGORITHM FOR DETECTING THE ONSET OF MUSCLE-CONTRACTION BY EMC SIGNAL-PROCESSING

The Generalized Likelihood Ratio (GLR) test is proposed for estimating the time instant of muscle contraction onset via electromyographic (E MG) signal processing. In contrast to commonly used threshold-based es timation methods, the proposed algorithm proves to be reasonably accur ate even for low levels of EMG activity; the improved behaviour of the GLR test comes with just a modest increase in the computational compl exity. A set of computer simulation experiments are presented, where t he proposed algorithm and two different threshold-based estimators are studied. also, we discuss the results of analysing the EMG recordings of selected proximal muscles of the upper limb in a hemiparetic subje ct. (C) 1998 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.