Determination of sensor location

After the subject has been positioned in the recommended starting posture, the location of the SEMG sensor can be determined and marked. 'Sensor location' is defined as the position of the centre of 2 bipolar electrodes on the muscle. Sensors should be placed at the location at which a good and stable SEMG can be obtained. Factors which influence the recording of a good and stable SEMG are: the presence of motor points and/or muscle tendons and the presence of other active muscles near the SEMG sensor (crosstalk).

SENIAM recommendations for determination of sensor location

'Sensor location' is defined as the position of the centre of 2 bipolar electrodes on the muscle. SENIAM has developed recommendations for sensor locations on 30 individual muscles. Within these recommendations the location of the electrodes is described as a point on a line between 2 anatomical landmarks. First the position of the anatomical landmarks has to be located according to the SENIAM recommendations for sensor locations. Next a line needs to be drawn between the 2 landmarks. The location for the sensors can be located somewhere on this line according to the SENIAM recommendations for individual muscles. These individual recommendations are based on 2 general recommendations:

-With respect to the longitudinal location of the sensor on the muscle SENIAM recommends to place the sensor halfway the (most) distal motor endplate zone and the distal tendon.

-With respect to the transversal location of the sensor on the muscle SENIAM recommends to place the sensor at the surface away from the 'edge' with other subdivisions or muscles so that the geometrical distance of the muscle to these subdivisions and other muscles is maximised.

The recommendations for sensor locations for individual muscles are included at another part of this website:
Recommendations for sensor locations on individual muscles.