What Is a Muscle Artifact

Muscle artifacts are characterized by surges in high frequency activity and are readily identified because of their outlying high values relative to the local background activity.

What are two possible causes of artefact?

External artifacts are usually caused by line current, which has a frequency of 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Internal electrical artifacts can be caused by tremors, muscle shivering, hiccups or, as in the present case, medical devices.

What does artifacts in ECG mean?

Electrocardiographic artifacts are defined as electrocardiographic alterations, not related to cardiac electrical activity. As a result of artifacts, the components of the electrocardiogram (ECG) such as the baseline and waves can be distorted. Motion artifacts are due to shaking with rhythmic movement.