One thing you may find in common among technogeek. product designers is that they are very, very lazy. That's right. I work around sixty-plus hours a week, but I'm the most lazy person in the world. My laziness means better products for you. You see, if there is a way to make a product easier to use, the lazy designer will change the design instead of the instructions to the user. When it comes to Surface EMG, I not only design the products, but I personally do tests on real patients, and have for years. If it takes me too long to do a test, I simply redesign the product. Ever since the new CPT code for billing dynamic SEMG (96002 & 96004), and its numerous successes in court, everyone is suddenly interested in integrating it into their practices. The big problem has always been that the technology is crude, and the process too complex for most busy practices. There are two kinds of surface EMG. Static Scanning SEMG (Figure 1) is a bilateral measure of muscle activity at every other segment in a neutral posture, and Dynamic SEMG (Figure 2) requires attaching electrodes and measuring muscle activity as various movements are performed. Comparing static SEMG and Dynamic SEMG is like comparing X-Ray with Video Fluoroscopy. If it is important to gather data you need to prove injury, or to prove need for continued care, you need to use Dynamic Surface EMG. Static SEMG is great for screenings, tracking progress, and determining the balance of muscles about the spine. So what's the problem? With most systems it simply takes too long, and is too complex. One of the reasons for this is the fact that most systems are truly static EMG systems that are being used for Dynamic SEMG. You have to remove your static electrodes, attach dynamic electrodes, and then perform the test. Not only is this a waste of time, but the constant removing and attaching the electrodes and lead wires simply wears out the device prematurely. This process was way too cumber some for "Lazy David", so I invented a separate probe in addi tion to the static probe, which is used exclusively for your dy namic exams only. No removing lead wires, or modifying your static probes for dynamic testing, as the extra probe is ready for testing at all times. It is simple. Stepl: Perform static test. Step 2: Put down static probes. Step 3: Attach belt with the addi tional probe to patient, attach electrodes to the skin and per form the dynamic exam. This unique arrangement allows you to perform the static and dynamic test in approximately one-fourth the time of conventional systems. Finally, you can integrate Dynamic Testing into your arsenal of tools, and do it in a man ner which is simple, fast, and accurate, without the hassles of previous systems. • Oh, and I almost forgot! People are always asking me about mobile printers to use for screenings. FINALLY, there is one I can recommend. Previous printers were certainly small enough, but were too slow, or not rugged enough for use in the field. HP just released a printer called the HP 450. Not only is it tough, well built and capable but, in draft mode, it prints the graphic for a screening in less than thirty seconds (tested with a 2 GHZ processor). ■ .-'-;•«■• Technology can be your best friend or worst enemy. By finding the best product and support for your needs, you will have a great partner in building your practice. | The author, David Marcarian, MA, is founder and president of Precision Biometrics, supplier of the Myo Vision SEMG and Thermoglide systems. He has worked for NASA, and was awarded a $450,000 grant from the N1H for developing the Myo Vision. He lectures for Palmer College of Chiropractic and his course is endorsed by all U.S. chiropractic associations that mandate SEMG training. He has personally instructed more than 6,000 chiropractors on proper SEMG use. Mr. Marcarian can be reached at 800-969-6961 and via email at: DavidCAMy ovision.com. or visit his company s website at WiV W. myovision.com. TAC's MISSION: We are dedicated to the continuing education & advancement of the chiropractic professional—YOU! Figure 1. Static Scanning SEMG Figure 2. Dynamic Flexion Test Dynamic SEMG requires attaching electrodes and measuring muscle activity as various movements are performed
