Surface Electromyography

A non-invasive technique for measuring the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles, using electrodes placed on the skin over the muscle. Surface EMG is used in biomechanics, prosthetic control, rehabilitation, and — increasingly — as an input modality for accessible computing, allowing users to issue commands through voluntary muscle activation and inhibition even when overt movement is limited. Medical-grade sEMG systems (e.g., Delsys Trigno) provide higher fidelity than consumer wearables like the Myo Armband, but at significantly higher cost.