The Development of an EMG-based Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Training System for Hemiplegic Patients

Abstract

Existing therapy and orthosis for upper arm rehabilitaion have some shortcomings such that orthosis can’t help patient’s motion but it just supply, patient has to go to hospital for therapy and patient can’t reflect his will in therapy. Because of these reasons, upper arm rehabilitaion system was developed, which could increase hemiplegic patient’s strength and make patient does training by oneself. To make the training system, motor and EMG sensor with orthosis were used so that orthosis could move actively and give patient load. EMG sensor was used for feedback to reflect patient’s will and the rotational potentiometer was used to get the information about joint angle. Orthosis made upper arm’s flexion and extension, and used EMG signal. For rehabilitation, orthosis made user exercise by giving him proper load, or made involved arm mimic uninvolved arm’s motion. As it can reflect patient’s will, we expect that it can improve rehabillitaion effect and make patients do training at his home.