Usability of Textile-integrated Electrodes for Emg Measurements

Intelligent garments can be used for monitoring body movements and also for monitoring vital functions, including heart rate and electrical muscle activity. In this paper we describe electromyographic (EMG) monitoring with textile-integrated electrodes. The aim was to clarify the usability and reliability of these EMG electrodes for different measurements. This study is part of the project called Methods and Models for Intelligent Garment Design. Healthy and fit subjects participated in treadmill or cycle ergometer tests and wore prototype tight-fitting shorts which contained textile-integrated EMG electrodes and integrated measuring equipment. For comparison, some subjects’ myoelectrical signals were recorded using traditional disposable bipolar surface EMG electrodes. The EMG measurement based on textile electrodes was also used in the field during various exercises. The usability of textile integrated EMG electrodes was an improvement over the traditional surface EMG method in dynamic work. Textile electrodes stayed in place despite motion and sweating. The new method employed no loose cables. Textileintegrated EMG measurements are appropriate in situations where it is possible to use skin-tight clothes. With such a garment, it is possible to record EMG data during the user’s daily routines.