Proposing Myoelectric Biomarkers for Assessing Kyphosis

Kyphosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine in the thoracic region that can be measured using methods such as X-ray radiography, MRI, photogrammetry, wearable sensors, ۳D scanning, and ruler measurements. These methods have limitations such as high cost, low accuracy, and exposure to radiation. To overcome these limitations, we have addressed the main factor of kyphosis, namely the activity of the effective muscles. In this article, for the first time, the use of electromyogram of the erector spinae muscles to assess kyphosis is proposed, which includes the steps of signal recording, feature extraction, statistical evaluation, and analysis of the results. In this regard, signal recording was performed from ten adolescents in sitting, standing, and walking states from the left and right erector spinae muscles in two states: simulated kyphosis and corrected posture. Then, the root mean square, mean frequency, and median frequency features were calculated. Statistical evaluation of the results for the simulated kyphosis and corrected state in three states: sitting, standing, and walking, was performed using the t-test method. According to the results, the value of the features in the corrected state is significantly different from that in the simulated kyphosis, which indicates that the electromyogram signal can be used as a biomarker. Among the features, the mean frequency and the median frequency relative to the root mean square are more robust to the individual's states (sitting, standing, and walking). The results of this study can be of great help in the development of kyphosis correction equipment using muscle activity signals.

کلیدواژه ها:

Electromyogram Signal ، Kyphosis Assessment ، Biomarker ، statistical analysis