Evaluating the level of muscle contraction by near-infrared spectroscopy: a potential application for scaling muscle spasm (Conference Presentation)

This study investigates the potential application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to quantify muscle contraction intensity as a surrogate for muscle spasticity assessment in healthy individuals. Using NIRS and EMG sensors, we measured changes in muscle oxygenation and electrical activity during various levels of voluntary contractions of the flexor forearm muscles. Our results indicate a significant negative correlation between muscle oxygenation levels and contraction intensity, suggesting that higher muscle spasticity correlates with lower oxygenation. This method offers a promising non-invasive alternative for assessing muscle spasticity, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment monitoring in clinical settings.