Investigating EMG Fatigue Markers of Biceps Muscle: A Comparative Study Through Mono Fractal and Band Power Analysis

Muscle fatigue assessment plays a crucial role in clinical diagnostics for muscle rehabilitation. While numerous conventional methods are available for testing fatigue; their subjective or qualitative nature prevents them from being considered the gold standard. This research strives to offer a deeper comprehension of the complexity and dynamic changes present in muscle activity patterns, as analysed through EMG signals during biceps muscle contractions under different loading conditions. To facilitate the experiment, EMG data of biceps brachii muscle from five volunteers were obtained for 30 seconds duration using a DIY electromyography sensor & surface electrodes equipped with the essential signal acquisition circuitry. The data was subjected to monofractal analysis, where the fractal dimension (D) was determined through Hurst’s exponent (H), and opposite trends were observed across 4Kg & 6Kg loading conditions. In contrast, band power computation is employed to assess the power within distinct frequency bands in EMG signals, offering insights into how muscle activity is distributed across different spectral domains. This approach facilitates the more rapid detection of alterations in muscle activation patterns leading to real-time monitoring of fatigue irrespective of diverse loading conditions, and showcasing its superiority over monofractal analysis.