EMG-Assessed Paratonia: A New Approach to Response Inhibition

EMG-assessed paratonia was analyzed and compared to assess motor response efficiency in three groups of healthy young adults with different levels of physical activity: professional athletes engaged in closed and open skills sports, amateurs, and sedentary individuals. To analyze EMG-assessed paratonia, two surface electrodes were attached to the biceps and triceps brachii muscles during passive flexion-extension movements of the elbow while the participant remained in a state of maximum relaxation. Any EMG activity detected during these movements was attributed to an inability to relax, thereby reflecting their degree of paratonia.