This matrix includes a description of general design features and considerations for each type of electrode; pros and cons of each method; and four clusters of recommendations based on common experimental questions:
1) What muscles can be recorded?;
2) What type of information can be estimated?;
3) Are the recordings representative of the entire muscle?;
4) What types of contractions can yield relevant data?
Surface Electrodes: Suitable for general muscle activity assessment; non-invasive but prone to crosstalk.
High-Density Surface EMG (HDsEMG): Enables spatial mapping of muscle activation; useful for regional muscle activation and motor unit analysis.
Intramuscular Electrodes (Fine-Wire & Needle): Necessary for deep muscle recordings; invasive and requires expertise.
Selection Considerations: Depends on the target muscle, depth, required signal specificity, and study aims.