Troubleshooting Tips

If you're a rehabilitation professional using mTrigger biofeedback, you know how powerful it can be for improving muscle activation and guiding patients towards a more effective recovery. However, even the most sophisticated tools have glitches. Understanding how to troubleshoot quickly and efficiently can make all the difference in clinical outcomes and workflow efficiency, whether you're dealing with inconsistent signal quality, connectivity problems, or other challenges. In this blog, we’ll walk through practical troubleshooting tips to help you get the most out of your mTrigger biofeedback device—so you can focus more on patient care and less on technical setbacks.

One of the most frequent culprits of technical issues is unexpected signal fluctuations. Perhaps you are using your mTrigger device and experience signal fluctuations that are not consistent with a ‘typical’ activation and rest cycle. These fluctuations can occur for several reasons, most of which are minor and have an easy fix.

Unexpected Signal Fluctuations

1. Recent adjustment of electrode placement or MVC goal setting
   
   When working in the Train module, you may sometimes realize the MVC goal needs to be adjusted or that a better electrode placement can be achieved. In both cases feel free to adjust; however, this will likely start to cause unexpected signal fluctuations.
   
   To solve: Exit out of Train and return to the Main Screen. Enter back into train and start again. Everything should have adjusted now and be ready to go.

2.     Too close to another electronic device or conductive surface

Due to the circuitry inside the mTrigger, some electrical noise can make its way into the system and impact the displayed signal. While this will not damage the system, it would impact the signal displayed in the app interface.

To solve: Remove the device from contact with other electronic devices during use to get the best signal. If the signal seems hyper-responsive or unresponsive, close the mTrigger app and reconnect your device.

3.     Too much wire motion (especially at the device connection)

Movement of the wire can introduce mechanical noise that interferes with the true muscle signal, creating false spikes or irregular waveforms. This most typically occurs when moving the device while the patient is performing an exercise. Additionally, if the connection point where the wire plugs into the device is only partially connected or has been stressed by frequent movement, it can cause intermittent disruptions in the signal transmission.

To solve: First, ensure that wires are firmly connected to the unit. You can secure the wires with pre-wrap, the mTrigger strap, or by another method to reduce movement of the wires during exercise. Once the wires have been secured and movement minimized, exit Train and return to the main screen. You should now be able to enter Train and resume.

4.     Poor electrode contact with the skin

Properly preparing the skin before use and practicing proper electrode habits can greatly reduce the unexpected signal fluctuations that occur. Excessive hair will also greatly affect the signal.

Exercises that require greater movement of a joint or focus on smaller joint movements are more susceptible to having electrodes fall off or lose skin contact. This most often happens during shoulder exercises or exercises of the hands/feet/or face. To solve:Make sure the targeted area is cleaned with alcohol and free from any dirt, oils, lotion, or excessive hair. This ensures the best signal possible.

Use new or very lightly used electrodes. Electrodes typically last 6-10 sessions before their adhesiveness wears off. Cleaning the skin as well as the electrodes after each use can improve their longevity. Store electrodes in a cool, dry place to help maintain adhesiveness.

Use the proper size electrode for the prescribed exercise. Exercises for the hands, feet, face, or pelvic floor may require a smaller electrode size for a smaller target muscle. Smaller patients will also benefit from smaller electrodes, as the larger electrodes will lose contact and fall off, causing signal fluctuations. 

Connection & Charging Issues

1.     Bluetooth not connecting

Occasionally there is an issue with Bluetooth connectivity. This becomes more of an issue when an excessive number of Bluetooth devices are within a small proximity.

To solve: Try to limit the number of Bluetooth-connecting devices in the area. Then turn off/on your mTrigger device and attempt to reconnect. If you are still having issues, try connecting to another device.

2.     Charger not working

While this issue is frustrating, it typically has an easy solution.

To solve: First try a different outlet. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, try a different micro-USB charger.

Additional Issues

1.     Activation meter not coming back down between exercise reps/during rest

This error may occur if any component is adjusted while in the Train module. This includes electrode placement, channels, MVC goal setting, and even changing the location of the device.

To solve: Exit out of Train and return to the Main Screen. Finish adjusting whatever is necessary (electrodes, channels, goals, etc.), then enter back into Train and start again. Everything should have adjusted now and be ready to go.

2.     Not registering a contraction during a neuromuscular deficit test

When performing a neuromuscular deficit test, occasionally the meters will not register a contraction. If this occurs, the test will not yield accurate results. This problem occurs when something gets adjusted after entering the test or when the device is not in dual-channel mode.

To solve:In Settings make sure dual channel mode is toggled on. Furthermore, adjust any other settings or components you need to (pad placement, channels, etc.). Save your settings and return to the Main Screen. Now re-enter the Neuromuscular Deficit Test. Have your patient perform one rep to make sure the meters register a contraction. Now you should be ready to go.

3.     Unit rattling

While this may seem problematic—don’t panic—if you haven’t seen any changes in performance, it is most likely that a non-electrical component has come loose inside the enclosure. This can sometimes happen if the unit is dropped repeatedly, but mTrigger units are designed such that this type of mechanical damage will not impact system performance.

Summary

Inaccurate readings from a poorly configured device setup or a poor-quality signal can affect patient engagement and treatment choices. By learning to recognize and resolve common issues with your mTrigger biofeedback device, you can save time and make sure your sessions run smoothly. This knowledge is particularly helpful in fast-paced rehabilitation settings where accuracy and dependability are critical to reaching treatment objectives.

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