Deltoideus Pars Acromialis (left) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Middle Deltoid“, p. 305

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Abduct the arm.
Crosstalk from: anterior and posterior deltoid · biceps brachii · triceps brachii

The position above follows SENIAM; the crosstalk and artefact notes apply to surface recording of this muscle in general.

Source: SENIAM (Hermens 2000) ↗

Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000;10(5):361-74.

Based on SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000). Not an official SENIAM product. See all references → · How electrodes are placed (guide) · Glossary

Go deeper Which Muscles Cannot Be Measured With Surface EMG — and Why → Specific, Quasi-Specific, General — The Three Types of Surface EMG Placement →

All 49 muscle protocols as a PDF — free

Print-ready for the lab or clinic: 79 pages of protocols (SENIAM + peer-reviewed), plus the SENIAM table, a placement checklist and a sensor comparison sheet as A4 sheets.

Anatomy & Function

The M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis (Middle Deltoid) is a muscle of the shoulder region. It is responsible for abduction at shoulder joint (from 15 degrees). This muscle is one of 26 with official SENIAM-recommended surface EMG electrode placement. This page documents the exact electrode position, anatomical attachments and a standardized test movement based on Hermens et al. (2000).

Function Abduction at shoulder joint (from 15 degrees) Origin Acromion Insertion Deltoid tuberosity of humerus Innervation Axillary nerve (posterior cord), C5–C6

Innervation after Perotto AO, Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer, 5th ed. 2011 — an anatomical reference, not an electrode placement recommendation.

Clinical applications (SENIAM)

Rotator cuff rehabilitation
Impingement syndrome biofeedback
Pre-/post-surgical shoulder assessment

Test Movement

Raise arm laterally (abduction 90 degrees) against resistance

Detail: sensor on the M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis — Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Seated, if possible with the back supported, both arms abducted to about 90°.
Fixation: Arms fixed near the 90° position with straps; bilateral contraction keeps the trunk load balanced.
Resistance: Fixed straps or bar above the elbows, abduction against them.

Abduction works best for the acromial (middle) part; for the clavicular part consider a flexion position, for the spinal part an extension position.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG. Noraxon; 2005, p. 31. Konrad describes this test at group level; it applies to all muscles of the group. · Why and how to normalise to MVC

Measure M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis activity live

The electrode is placed — what next? easyEMG visualises muscle activity in real time, with SENIAM-compliant placement guidance, up to 4 channels at once and biofeedback training right afterwards.

In rehabilitation, the Middle Deltoid is typically recorded to track progress and retrain activation.

EMG biofeedback in physiotherapy → What is EMG biofeedback? PicoBlue sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place the EMG electrode on the M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis?

Greatest curvature of the muscle. Orientation: Toward acromion–lateral epicondyle. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis?

Raise arm laterally (abduction 90 degrees) against resistance. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

Is the M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

Yes. The M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis is one of 26 muscles for which the SENIAM project has published official surface EMG electrode placement recommendations.

M. Deltoideus Pars Acromialis

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)