ABSTRACT
This electromyographic field study investigates the need for several different ways to normalize the myoelectric activity of forearm muscles. The normalization procedure must allow for reliable comparisons between subjects, muscles and study conditions. Therefore, the contractions used for normalization have essential role in the interpretation of the results. Meanwhile, normalization in different postures increases temporal demands. In the study, five different normalization procedures were compared; three procedures involved squeezing the hand tool’s handle, one squeezing a dynamometer and the last one consisted of resisting self-induced wrist flexion or extension. The results of the study group (n = 10) showed no need for normalization in handle specific postures. Based on the results, resisting investigator- or self-induced wrist flexion or extension is the preferred way to carry out forearm EMG normalizations in the field.
