Application of Time-Frequency Surface Electromyographic Procedures for the Classification of Impaired Muscle Function in Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions

Objective: This pilot study tested whether time-frequency EMG measures allow one to classify impaired back muscle function in chronic back pain (cLBP) as different from pain free healthy subjects. Design: Case control study. Setting: Neuromuscular research laboratory, NeuroMuscular Research Center, Boston University (Boston U.S.A.). Participants: A total of 8 healthy subjects and 8 cLBP patients. Interventions: Cyclically lifting and lowering of a box for 4 minutes (pace: 12 lifts/minute. The box-load was 13kg in subjects and 8.5kg in patients. EMG signals were recorded from 12 muscle sites from trunk and limb m…