Commercially available electrodes can only provide quality surface electromyography\n(sEMG) measurements for a limited duration due to user discomfort and signal degradation, but\nin many applications, collecting sEMG data for a full day or longer is desirable to enhance clinical\ncare. Few studies for long-term sEMG have assessed signal quality of electrodes using clinically\nrelevant tests. The goal of this research was to evaluate flexible, gold-based epidermal sensor system\n(ESS) electrodes for long-term sEMG recordings. We collected sEMG and impedance data from eight\nsubjects from ESS and standard clinical electrodes on upper extremity muscles during maximum\nvoluntary isometric contraction tests, dynamic range of motion tests, the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function\nTest, and the Box & Block Test. Four additional subjects were recruited to test the stability of ESS\nsignals over four days. Signals from the ESS and traditional electrodes were strongly correlated\nacross tasks. Measures of signal quality, such as signal-to-noise ratio and signal-to-motion ratio, were\nalso similar for both electrodes. Over the four-day trial, no significant decrease in signal quality was\nobserved in the ESS electrodes, suggesting that thin, flexible electrodes may provide a robust tool\nthat does not inhibit movement or irritate the skin for long-term measurements of muscle activity in\nrehabilitation and other applications.
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