Why am i getting high readings?

User Error is the main cause. The list below are some common errors:

1. Poor skin contact; due to placement on hair, not skin, or not using QuickScan Liquid.
2. Make sure you are only pressing ONE button when touching the skin - do not press both.
3. When touching the skin, make sure you press and hold the button until the voice prompts you to the next level. Make sure you are holding the probes steady. 
4. Electrodes should be replaced monthly. Although they may appear in good condition, the "button connector" which attaches the electrode to the electrode post wears out due to the fact it was designed to pivot to adjust to different body contours. The cost of monthly replacements are low, and will ensure the best skin contact. 
5. Improper or lack of cleaning the electrode posts, build-up of QuickScan fluid on the electrode posts, or corroded electrode posts.  
6. All 5 electrodes must have contact with the skin. You have to be conscious of this at first. Try rolling the probe forward and backwards "feeling" for contact with all 5 electrodes. Soon it will become second nature. 

how do I test for electrical interference?

The Forearm Test: used to see if the instrument is gathering data properly and without the influence of electrical noise.
The key is to perform the forearm test under all the conditions below to eliminate all variables.  

1. Eliminate the PC as the source of the problem: unplug the power cord which is connected directly to the PC and confirm that it is a 3 prong grounded connection (Image 1). If it isn't, you will need to purchase a suitable replacement AC adapter (Targus or Aluratek brands work well) or purchase a laptop that is grounded. (The $300 HP Or Dell sold at Best Buy can eliminate most of these problems as most Dell's and HP's are now grounded. Toshiba is notorious for their electrical interference issues and are not recommended.)  Confirm that there is no un-grounded extension cord being used between the PC's power cord and the AC wall outlet. If un-grounded, replace with a 3 prong extension cord or surge protector.​
2. If you have an un-grounded computer, you can test the device on battery power only. 

Begin The Forearm Test:

1. Go to the "Perform Scan" screen (use QuickScreen or pretend you are performing  a test on a patient)
2. While in the "Perform Scan" screen, turn both probes ON by pressing and releasing both buttons 
3. Place 1 or 2 Quickscan pads on the Quickscan pad jar lid, and put the lid back on (use tweezers to avoid getting liquid on your skin)
4. Touch the probes down to the Quickscan pad and write down the value it drops down to
   1. does it drop quickly?
   2. do the readings drop below 2 microvolts?
   3. does it do the same on both probes or just one probe?
5. With your forearm bare and your arm lying in a resting position on a table or your leg, press and release one of the buttons on the probe to turn it ON
   1. touch down the probe to your forearm flexors. With your arm in the relaxed state, look at how quickly the readings drop. Do they drop quickly? If yes, that is a good sign. If not, it means there may be issues with electrical interference. 
   2. next, make a fist. Hold for 5 seconds and relax completely. Do the readings move "up and down" tracking your muscle tension? If yes, the instrument is working fine and there is a good chance that electrical interference is not an issue.

Eliminating electrical interference 

Because of MyoVision's "interference free design," it gives the ability to perform Standing Neutral Tests, which are very difficult for most machines due to the fact that measuring muscle activity, standing, requires extremely stable electronics 
That being said, there is the possibility that the advanced electronics of the MyoVision WireFree are "overwhelmed" under certain conditions which can lead to high readings. Thankfully, these issues can be easily solved. ​​

1. Your PC must be plugged into a grounded outlet. Other plug issues that will cause interference: 
   1. if your AC adapter does not have a 3 prong grounded plug (See image 1: ungrounded outlet)
   2. if the 3 prong plug is plugged onto the wall through an extension cord that is not grounded 
   3. an adapter that plugs into a 2 prong wall plug, with a 3 prong plug on the back of it (See image 2: a 2 prong plug with a 3 prong plug attached) ** Simply replace the AC adapter with a 3 prong AC adapter
2. If your laptop battery will not run without being plugged in, you will need to replace your battery, as it is "overtaxing" the charging circuit causing unnecessary electrical interference. 
3. If you are using a large screen display that is not grounded. Many large screen displays are manufactured without grounds, making them prone to generate a tremendous amount of electrical interference. In addition, on occasion, a display will have a bad power supply which also generates a lot of interference. 
4. If you have Force Plates and large physical therapy devices with motors. These can use large coils which can create quite a bit of electrical interference. 

I hear static semg lacks reproducibility. Is this true?

Static sEMG has been given a "bad rep" due to the older wired designs sold in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's. They were significantly impacted by electrical interference and were very unreliable. 

As you know, there have been many huge technological advances since then and the MyoVision Wirefree device has solved 99% of those problems. It is as reliable as any physiologic measure (blood pressure, range of motion, skin temperature, heart rate, etc.)

A video is worth at thousand words: Watch this video  of an impromptu exam performed by a skeptical doctor showing the reproducibility of our E-Scan.

Why should I choose static semg over thermography? 

Thermography is a great tool; it is essential for the analysis performed by the upper cervical practitioner and provides critical information needed for their analysis. But for all other practitioners, Static sEMG is typically a better tool. This is because:  

1. Thermography, when done properly, takes much longer than Static sEMG. According to the International Thermographic Society's guidelines, you need 15 minutes in 70 degree temperature before measuring on the patient. Static sEMG has no such constraints and can be performed without preparing the patient.
2. Patients cannot feel a 0.3 degree centigrade difference between left and right sides of the spine. That means you have to explain the results and hope they trust you. Static sEMG measures something more well known by patients: muscle tension.  
3. Static sEMG provides instant credibility. A patient can feel muscle tension and when they're able to see where that pain is using the Static sEMG, you are seen as credible and this makes them trust you for the solution.  
4. Screenings are limited for Thermography. The outside temperature, whether hot or cold, may prevent the use of the Thermography device, but have no impact on your screening. Many doctors who used to use Thermography at screenings found the need to "make up" the meaning of straight lines or bad results due to the impact of temperature. 

What about heart rate variability? Why doesn't myovision sell it? 

Heart rate variability is a great measure of stress. When we surveyed the doctors that have it, only 1 in 20 doctors who owned HRV equipment used it. Why? It takes too long and no one is certain what the results mean.  There is only one published study and the results were inconclusive. MyoVision is about providing the "biggest bang for your buck."  That "bang" comes from the Static sEMG. Is is more salient, immediately relevant and changes based on alterations in the patient's spinal health. ​

are there any published control group studies on the myovision static semg? 

MyoVision is the only commercially available Static sEMG system with research published in a peer-reviewed, indexed journal. One study called "Chronic low back pain assessment using Surface Electromyography" was a control group study that demonstrated those with chronic low back pain had three times the level of muscle activity (EP Stress Score) than the controls. Ask your MyoVision sales representative to provide you with this study.​

what is the ep stress score? 

The EP - or Electrophysiological - Stress Score is a single number which is the sum of all the muscle activity measured and displayed about the spine.  It correlates highly with the Oswestry, but is a purely objective means of tracking spinal health progress. Just as the blood pressure is used to track patient's heart health.

The first scan is used as a baseline, and each following is compared to this baseline. Those who start with low readings are typically in a state of chronic muscle fatigue from long term problems and their number will increase as muscles begin functioning normally again. Those who start out high readings will typically see decreases as their acute state subsides. ​

IS IT TRUE BOTH LOW (YELLOW) AND HIGH (RED) READINGS ARE SIGNIFICANT? WHY?

Both yellow (low) and high (red) readings are significant. Often times the yellow readings are more indicative of a problem area (especially if there are two or three levels in a group on the same side) than the red readings. This is because muscles in a chronic state of fatigue enter a "contracture" state. Just like a weightlifters muscles are "bulked up" and shortened, they are not electrically active. If you want to know for certain, perform palpation. If you palpate and the muscle feels as though it is in spasm, yet the readings are low, this is a contracture state (fatigued muscle). If you palpate and muscles feel lax, with yellow (low) readings, this is a normal reading. Review the interpretation video to gather more expertise on the top

HOW DOES THE EP STRESS SCORE HELP WITH REPRODUCIBILITY?

One of the main reasons the Static test is sometimes seen as lacking in reproducibility is the fact that we perform the test standing. The standing test is more clinically meaningful because we elicit the muscular response to subluxation by having the patient maintain their own posture. The downside is that patients may sway slightly when standing, making the arrows change directions on some patients in a pre and post test. The EP Stress Score effectively nullifies the impact of sway because it sums readings on both left and right sides of the spine. If muscles fire more on the left side in one test, and the right in the second, the sum still typically remains nearly the same. Issue resolved!

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