Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29354060›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in physiology2017

Interpreting Signal Amplitudes in Surface Electromyography Studies in Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Andrew D Vigotsky, Israel Halperin, Gregory J Lehman, Gabriel S Trajano, Taian M Vieira

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in physiology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 194 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
194citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

194 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  4. Biceps Femoris Activation during Hamstring Strength Exercises: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
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  6. Core Muscle Activity During Physical Fitness Exercises: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020
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  14. Examining swallowing parameters of the Yale Swallow Protocol in healthy individuals: Establishing Normative Data.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025
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134 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Andrew D VigotskyDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States.
Israel HalperinPhysiology Discipline, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Gregory J LehmanPrivate Practice, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Gabriel S TrajanoSchool of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Taian M VieiraLaboratory for Engineering of the Neuromuscular System, Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a popular research tool in sport and rehabilitation sciences. Common study designs include the comparison of sEMG amplitudes collected from different muscles as participants perform various exercises and techniques under different loads. Based on such comparisons, researchers attempt to draw conclusions concerning the neuro- and electrophysiological underpinning of force production and hypothesize about possible longitudinal adaptations, such as strength and hypertrophy. However, such conclusions are frequently unsubstantiated and unwarranted. Hence, the goal of this review is to discuss what can and cannot be inferred from comparative research designs as it pertains to both the acute and longitudinal outcomes. General methodological recommendations are made, gaps in the literature are identified, and lines for future research to help improve the applicability of sEMG are suggested.

Indexed as

activationexcitationexercisehypertrophymotor unit recruitmentmuscle forcerate codingstrength

Identifiers

PMID29354060
PMCPMC5758546

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.