Longitudinal analysis of lower limb muscle activity and ankle tendon biosignals using structural equation modeling

Abstract

We collected biosignals from 63 participants and extracted the features corresponding to each level of exerted muscle force. Data were classified into typical and atypical patterns. Data analysis was performed using the Linear Latent Curve Model (LCM) and the Conditional Linear LCM. The typical patterns demonstrated a high degree of fit. Factors, such as ankle circumference and muscle mass, influenced the model intercept. A larger ankle circumference indicated attenuation of signal transmission from the tendon to the skin surface, leading to lower biosignal values. These results indicate that biosignals from the tendons near the ankle can be captured using piezoelectric film sensors. There are studies that define biosignals originating from tendons as mechanotendography. It has been demonstrated that the relationship between biosignals originating from tendons and the exerted muscle force can be explained linearly. Insights from this study may facilitate individualized approaches in the fields of motion control and rehabilitation. Physiological studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying biosignal generation are necessary.

Keywords

• Lower limb muscle activity
• tendon biosignals
• longitudinal data
• latent curve model
• piezoelectric film sensor