Table 1.
Description of muscles studied
| Muscle | Hypothesized function during locomotion | Description of electrode placement | Sources of possible cross-talk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sternohyoid | Stabilization against extension moments | Mid-neck, 1.5 cm lateral from midline (C 4) | Platysma |
| Sternocleidomastoid | Stabilization against extension moments | One third of muscle length below insertion (Sommerich et al., 2000) | None |
| Masseter | Stabilization against extension moments | Anterior aspect, between zygomatic arch and mandible (Castroflorio et al., 2005) | None |
| Levator scapulae | Stabilization against flexion moments | Between the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoideus muscle and the anterior margin or the trapezius (Queisser et al., 1994; Schuldt and Harms-Ringdahl 1988; Sommerich et al., 2000) | Trapezius and middle scalene |
| Upper trapezius | Stabilization against flexion moments | Halfway along a line drawn between the spine of the 7th cervical vertebra and the acromion (Jensen et al., 1993; Mercer, 2002) | None |
| Splenius capitis | Stabilization against flexion moments | 6–8 cm laterally of the median line at the level of C4 (Keshner et al. 1989; Queisser et al., 1994). | None |
| Semispinalis capitis (right) | Stabilization against flexion moments | 2 cm below the occipital bone at the level of C1/C2 and 2 cm lateral of the median line (Keshner et al., 1989; Queisser et al., 1994; Sommerich et al., 2000) | Upper Trapezius, pars descendens |
| Semispinalis capitis (left) | Stabilization against flexion moments | 2 cm below the occipital bone at the level of C1/C2 and 2 cm lateral of the median line (Keshner et al., 1989; Queisser et al., 1994; Sommerich et al., 2000) | Upper Trapezius, pars descendens |