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Distribution Of Tremorogenic Activity Among The Majorsuperficial Muscles Of The Upper Limb Insubjects With Essential Tremor, David Jordan Standring

Theses and Dissertations

Optimized peripheral tremor suppression could address many limitations of surgical or medicinal treatments of Essential Tremor, however it is not well understood how the tremorogenic activity is distributed among the muscles of the upper limb, and therefore how to optimize such suppression. We recorded electromyographic (EMG) activity in the 15 major superficial muscles from the shoulder to the wrist while subjects performed postural and kinetic tasks similar to activities of daily living. We calculated the power spectral density and computed the total power in the tremor band (4"12 Hz) for each muscle, from which we determined the distribution of tremorogenic …

Simulated Tremor Propagation In The Upper Limb: From Muscle Activity To Joint Displacement, Thomas Corie, Steven Knight Charles

Faculty Publications

Although tremor is the most common movement disorder, there are few non-invasive treatment options. Creating effective tremor suppression devices requires a knowledge of where tremor originates mechanically (which muscles) and how it propagates through the limb (to which degrees of freedom, DOF).

To simulate tremor propagation, we created a simple model of the upper limb, with tremorogenic activity in the 15 major superficial muscles as inputs and tremulous joint displacement in the 7 major DOF as outputs. The model approximated the muscle excitation-contraction dynamics, musculoskeletal geometry, and mechanical impedance of the limb.

From our simulations, we determined fundamental principles for …

Proof-Of-Concept Tremor Suppression Sleeve For Essential Tremor Patients, S. Adam Stringham, Dr. Steven K. Clarles

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Essential Tremor (ET) is among the most common movement disorders. It is characterized by involuntary, rhythmic movement in the body, most often in the hands or head. The primary treatment options include deep brain surgery and/or medication, both of which can cause undesired side effects. The Neuromechanics Research Group at BYU is investigating alternative treatments by studying the effect of low-level electrical stimulation of affected extrinsic hand muscles on tremor in ET patients. While the research may prove promising, there are still several obstacles to overcome for this approach to be practical. To apply electrical stimulation, self-adhesive electrodes are placed …