Detection limit for electromyography-based diagnostics of spontaneous muscle activity
PIs: Thomas Klotz, Justus Marquetand
(A) In vivo experiments with novel electrodes (B) enable the recording of electrical muscle signals from patients in high resolution, which (C) can be related to the pathophysiology of muscle fibers using computer models.
Aim:
Many musculoskeletal system diseases lead to the spontaneous activity of individual muscle fibers. These can be detected with painful and invasive measurements and are essential for diagnostics. This project investigates whether it is possible to develop non-invasive diagnostic procedures.
Description:
Pathological spontaneous activity of muscles is a clinically relevant feature of many neuromuscular diseases and, with a few exceptions, can only be detected using invasive measurements of the electrical muscle activity, which is conventionally performed using needle electrodes. It is still unclear why non-invasive surface electrodes cannot detect most forms of pathological spontaneous activity. Recent developments of novel electrodes have enabled high-resolution characterization of a muscle’s electric activity. In addition, we can use multiscale models to directly link the cellular behaviour of muscle fibres and the measured signals. The combination of measurements and computer simulations thus allows us to answer this fundamental question and improve our understanding of neuromuscular diseases.
Involved Institutions:
Institute for Modelling and Simulation of Biomechanical Systems, University of Stuttgart
Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen
Applicants:
Thomas Klotz
Justus Marquetand
Publications
2025
In: Journal of Neural Engineering, Bd. 22, 2025.
In: Journal of Neural Engineering, Bd. 22, Ausg. 2, 2025.