An Evaluation of EMG of the Frontalis Muscle as an Indicator of Change of Workload — A Pilot Study

Abstract

Evaluation of a person's overall physical effort has traditionally been performed by measuring such easily quantifiable parameters as heart rate and oxygen consumption. Electromyography of a particular muscle, while being an acknowledged indicator of the amount of effort of that muscle, may not necessarily be an indicator of overall physical effort. Research conducted in recent years tends to show that mild stress changes were reflected in the EMG of the frontalis. This study is an attempt at seeking a relationship between the EMG of the frontalis and the workload. Heart rate and frontalis EMG were recorded at three different rates of work. Results indicate that the relationship between workload and heart rate is significant, while that between workload and frontalis EMG is not significant.