Abstract
In recent years, advancements in surface electromyography (EMG) have facilitated the monitoring and measurement of respiration in clinical medicine. Adapting and developing surface EMG (sEMG) specifically for assessing the muscles of respiration non-invasively, without the use of needles or catheters, heralds a new clinical dimension in evaluating respiratory symptomatology and pathophysiology. Surface EMG may be applied for the evaluation of the activity of the diaphragm and other muscles of respiration, such as the intercostal, sternocleidomastoid, and scalene muscles. This serves essential and complex functions for quantification of dyspnea, respiratory drive and effort, as well as for determining the onset of respiratory muscle fatigue. The potential uses for a portable, non-invasive, and preferably wireless respiratory surface EMG device are myriad. However, further applicability of respiratory surface EMG is hindered by technological issues, such as optimal EMG sensor designs and the requisite EMG signal conditioning for the evaluation of respiratory muscle activity. There is abundant scope and need for further collaborative research between clinicians and researchers. This chapter summarizes the basic concepts, uses, and challenges involved in the application of respiratory surface EMG, especially in patients with chronic respiratory disorders, such as pulmonary emphysema.