Reliability of a practicable EMG-moment model for antagonist moment prediction.

Although the use of practicable EMG-moment models for knee joint moment prediction appears promising, the repeatability of the estimated forces remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to apply an EMG-moment model to predict the antagonist moment of the knee flexors (Mflx) during maximal isometric knee extension efforts. Nine healthy males performed maximal isometric knee extension and flexion contractions at 0 degrees , 45 degrees and 90 degrees angles with recordings of the net moment and EMG of thigh muscles. Calibration knee flexion efforts were performed at different levels of intensity and the resulting EMG-moment curves were fitted using second-order polynomials. The polynomials were then used to predict Mflx. This procedure was repeated a week after. The results indicated non-significant differences in test-retest Mflx. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.852 to 0.912 indicating high test-retest reliability of the estimated Mflx. For isometric contractions, the present model is suitable as a method to estimate antagonist muscle moments.