The Relationship Between Surface EMG and Grip Strength in Healthy Adults

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a non-invasive technique widely used to assess muscle activation and function. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between sEMG signal features and hand grip strength in healthy individuals across different ages and genders. A total of 280 participants (122 males, 158 females), aged 20 years and above, were categorized into six age groups. Grip strength was measured using a digital hand dynamometer, and sEMG signals of four upper-limb muscles, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris, were recorded at the same time. Root mean square (RMS) features were extracted from the sEMG signals to represent muscle activation. Pearson correlations were performed to analyze the relationship between RMS values and grip force. Results show a strong positive correlation between sEMG features and grip strength. These findings suggest that RMS-based sEMG analysis may provide a reliable, non-invasive indicator of grip strength and could aid in early detection of muscular decline in clinical or aging populations.