Upper Limb Neurorehabilitation in Patients With Stroke Using Haptic Device System Reciprocal Bi-Articular Muscle Activities Reflect as a Result of Improved Circle Drawing Smoothness
By Miyoshi, Tasuku; Takahashi, Yoshiyuki; Lee, Hokyoo; Suzuki, Tadashi; Komeda, Takashi; Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 370-375Publication Date: September 2010
Case study evaluated whether the reciprocal electromyographic (EMG) activities in biarticular arm muscles improved with the restoration of smooth motor performance throughout repetitive circle drawing training in the horizontal plane for participants with stroke. Participants, 3 male patients aged 40, 59, and 67 years, respectively, with subacute stroke with left arm paralysis, performed circle drawing tasks using a haptic device for upper limb neuromuscular rehabilitation consisting of a flat control panel, a forearm support, and a monitor. Each participant was seated in front of the system with his trunk immobilized by a strap and the wrist of his paretic forearm attached to the support base with Velcro straps so that the elbow and shoulder rotation were in a horizontal plane. The 90 millimeter radius of the target circle was displayed on the monitor. Participants moved the monitor cursor from start to goal points in clockwise and counterclockwise rotations during 10 minutes daily for 10 days. Results showed that after training, the movement velocities and achievement periods increased with the enhancement of the reciprocal EMG activities in the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles, and there was less jerkiness in movement. Therefore, the reciprocal EMG activities in biarticular arm muscles in response to circle drawing would be an index of the progressive improvement of smooth motor function in the upper limbs.
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
