Discriminative sEMG-based features to assess damping ability and interpret activation patterns in lower-limb muscles of ACLR athletes

Objective: The main goal of the athletes who undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) surgery is a successful return-to-sport. At this stage, identifying muscular deficits becomes important. Hence, in study, three discriminative features based on surface electromyographic signals (sEMG) acquired dynamic protocol are introduced to assess damping ability and interpret activation patterns lower-limb muscles ACLR athletes. Methods: include median frequency power spectrum density (PSD), relative percentage equivalent or stiffness derived from frequency, energy time-frequency plane pseudo-Wigner-Ville distribution (PWVD). To evaluate features, 11 healthy (6 months post-reconstruction surgery) were recruited acquire sEMG medial lateral parts hamstrings, quadriceps, gastrocnemius pre- post-fatigue single-leg landings. Results: A significant deficiency observed hamstring by evaluating proposed features. This indicates that more attention should be paid muscle pre-return-to-sport rehabilitations. Conclusion: quality electromyography-based assessments subjects depends acquisition protocol, as well type nature extracted combinatorial application both energy-based (derived PWVD) power-based PSD) could facilitate assessment process providing additional biomechanical information regarding behavior surrounding knee.