A study of hand grip pressure distribution and EMG of finger flexor muscles under dynamic loads

Abstract

A matrix of miniature and flexible pressure sensors is proposed to measure the grip pressure distribution (GPD) at the hand-handle interface of a vibrating handle. The GPD was acquired under static and dynamic loads for various levels of grip forces and magnitudes of vibration at different discrete frequencies in the 20–1000 Hz range. The EMG of finger flexor muscles was acquired using the silver-silver chloride surface electrodes under different static and dynamic loads. The measured data was analysed to study the influence of grip force, and magnitude and frequency characteristics of handle vibration on: (i) the local concentration of forces at the hand-handle interface; and (ii) the electrical activity of the finger flexor muscles. The results of the study revealed high interface pressure near the tips of index and middle fingers, and base of the thumb under static grip conditions. This concentration of high pressure shifted towards the middle of the fingers under dynamic loads, irrespective of the grip force, excitation frequency, and acceleration levels. The electrical activity of the finger flexor muscles increased considerably with the grip force under static as well as dynamic loads. The electrical activity under dynamic loads was observed to be 1·5–6·0 times higher than that under the static loads.