Using EMG to Better Understand Patient Pain and Stress During Routine Mammography

Since breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, it is recommended that women over the age of 40 get annual mammogram screenings. Regular mammograms allow for early breast cancer detection, and in turn, proper treatment and improved patient prognosis. However, the stress and discomfort associated with the mammogram procedure deter many women from routine screening. Most previous work attempting to characterize mammogram-related pain utilizes subjective, questionnaire-based methods. A more objective approach is needed to fully understand the stress and pain experienced by patients during the mammogram procedure. In recent years, bio signals such as surface electromyography (sEMG) have been used to quantify various physiological states including stress and pain. Advocating women’s health and early breast cancer detection, the Human-User Interaction Lab is the first research lab to use sEMG to quantitatively measure the stress and pain experienced by patients during mammography compressions.