Characterizing the SEMG patterns with myofascial pain using a multi-scale wavelet model through machine learning approaches

In this paper, we introduce a newly developed multi-scale wavelet model for the interpretation of surface electromyography (SEMG) signals and validate the model's capability to characterize changes in neuromuscular activation in cases with myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) via machine learning methods. The SEMG data collected from normal (N = 30; 27 women, 3 men) and MPS subjects (N = 26; 22 women, 4 men) were adopted for this retrospective analysis. SMEGs were measured from the taut-band loci on both sides of the trapezius muscle on the upper back while he/she conducted a cyclic bilateral backward shoulder extension movement within 1 min. Classification accuracy of the SEMG model to differentiate MPS patients from normal subjects was 77% using template matching and 60% using K-means clustering. Classification consistency between the two machine learning methods was 87% in the normal group and 93% in the MPS group. The 2D feature graphs derived from the proposed multi-scale model revealed distinct patterns between normal subjects and MPS patients. The classification consistency using template matching and K-means clustering suggests the potential of using the proposed model to characterize interference pattern changes induced by MPS.