Myontec is an innovator. It is an entrepreneurial company, taking the invention of muscle measurement to marketable products and applications by integrating existing data and adding unique information to it, thereby creating an additional dimension to better understand and manage the human body & performance. In this case study, we explain the vision behind our clothing embedded technology and provide answers to such questions as what is human machine and how can we enhance our performance by measuring the engine of our body, our muscles?

1. Measuring muscle activity via
wearable EMG – is it possible?

3. Finally we are able to get data on
muscles, easily, and even in real-
time. This information provides us
the most comprehensive insight in
human performance thus far.
Heart can be seen as a
fuel pump of the
human machine,
delivering fuel to
operating engine. It
plays also major part in
exhaust system
transporting away the
metabolic waste.
Our muscles, the engine,
produce the power. Thus,
the neouromuscular
system - together with our
joints, bones and
ligaments – is the
powertrain of the human
machine, being
responsible of power
production, transmission
& movement control.
Do we understand the “human machine”?

4. How are we able to measure the engine, our muscles?
Electromyography
Our muscles generate small
electrical signals when
contracting them.
These signals can be
detected using specific
sensors and measurement
devices.
The technique of measuring
this electrical activity is
called electromyography,
EMG. Thus, by using EMG,
we are able to analyze the
function and performance of
our muscular system, or to
be precise, our
neuromuscular system.
Signal = Volts (A-B)
muscle cell (muscle fiber)
Cell membrane
When muscle contracts, negative voltage,
or action potential, travels along the cell
membrane. This can be detected and
measured.

5. What are the key components in terms of muscle function?
Muscles, are composed of
a mixture of different types
of muscle fibers (or cells).
There are two types of
muscle fibers: slow (type I)
and fast type (IIa, IIb, IIx)
of muscle fibers.
Each muscle is innervated
by several α-motor
neurons. These neurons
convey electrical signals
from the central nervous
system to muscle.
An α-motor neuron and all
the muscle fibers it
innervates forms muscle’s
smallest functional unit,
called motor unit (MU).
When a motor unit is activated,
all of its fibers contract.

6. How do these motor units work?
Motor units are recruited
according to “Size
Principle” or “Orderly
recruitment principle”. This
means that
 smaller loads requiring,
low-force, fatigue-resistant,
slow twitch MUs (i.e., slow
twitch fibers) are activated
first. These units are also
smaller in size.
 fast twitch, high-force,
units with higher activation
thresholds will follow when
higher force is needed.
These MUs are also bigger
in size.
Motor unit recruitment:
”SIZE” OR ”ORDERLY PRINCIPLE”
All muscle fibers in a motor unit
are of the same fiber type.

7. The force in muscle is
increased both via temporal
and spatial recruitment. If
muscle need to create more
force:
More muscle fibers in action = more force..?
i) the same muscle fibers are
stimulated more by the
innervating α-motor neuron
until the muscle twitches
”fuse”. I.e., same amount of
MUs create greater force by
firing more rapidly (temporal).
ii) more new MUs are being
recruited (spatial). This
follows the orderly or the size
principle, presented before.
Force(%ofMVC)MUs
MU activation

8. Light contraction
Strong contraction
Could we summarize this..?
EMG is about measuring
the electric activity of
muscles. The level of this
activity is determined by
the motor units: the higher
the load the higher is the
firing rate of MUs and also
more MUs are being
recruited in order to create
greater force. Or inversely
and simplified: the
stronger the muscle
contraction, the greater is
the electrical activity.
This technique can be
applied in many ways to
evaluate the muscular
work and function.
EMG can be used, for example, to evaluate the muscle
function, capacity, fatigue, force production, or to analyze
activation patterns and biomechanics of human movement,
or to detect problems, medical abnormalities or deviations
of neuromuscular system.

9. How have EMG been measured in practice?
Tradionally, tiny, needle-like
sensors are placed straight
into the muscle tissue to gain
the muscle data. This
method is still often used in
clinical, diagnostic setups.
For more practical cases,
non-invasive surface-EMG is
used. In this method,
disposable electrodes are
being glued on skin.
Difficult and time-consuming preparation, and also issues with the reliability
of the measurement procedure has hindered the applicability of EMG in
habitual situations, especially during strenuous activities and exercises.

10. Can we measure EMG with wearables?
All the electronics, wiring
and sensors are seamlessly
integrated in high-quality
compression sportswear.
Small, light-weight EMG
unit with high frequency
sampling rate, memory and
wireless communication is
being attached to the
textile.
PROS
+ no loose electrodes, snap
connectors, or loose wires nor
cables
+ easy & quick preparation: “gear up
and go”
+ motion artefact minimized +
extremely good signal quality even
during the most extreme and
strenuous exercises
+ sensoring bigger area offers better
reproducibility (reliability,
stability), especially during
exercises
+ fully machine washable
+ price, simplicity, ease-of-use
CONS
- sensoring bigger area causes
cross-talk & signal cancellation,
leading diagnostic insensitivity in
single motor unit level.
Myontec’s wearable system offers valid and reliable EMG data
added with ease-of-use, convenience, and applicability in the field.

11. For what can we utilize this technology for?
field measurement
performance analysis
Sports & exercise
Fysio & rehabilitation
Health & wellbeing
Occupational health &
ergonomics
Medical solutions
Entertainment, gaming
Possibilities for utilizing this technology
in different areas are almost endless.
biofeedback
injury prevention
problem detection
training periodization
screening technique analysis
strain analysis
biomechanics analysis
diagnostics
education

12. The complete picture
better knowledge
better training
better performance
better results

13. Myontec is an innovator. It is an entrepreneurial company,
taking the invention of muscle measurement to
marketable products and applications
by integrating existing data and adding unique information
to it
thereby creating an additional dimension to better
understand and manage the human body & perfromance.
“
”
Want to know more: www.myontec.com