An EMG biofeedback device for video game use in forearm physiotherapy

While electromyography (EMG) is widely used in experimental physiotherapy (PT), its use as a diagnostic aid and supplementary tool in clinical PT remains limited. We report an integrated, wireless PT system for the forearm, which registers muscle movements via EMG, records and wirelessly transmits the data to a laptop computer, and runs software to discriminate between arm motions. The next step is to interface with a custom video game which responds to user movement and provides real-time biofeedback to the user, allowing them to visualize whether they are performing their PT exercise properly. Our device incorporates existing technologies into a functional ensemble compatible with both at-home and clinical use. Current testing (n=7 subjects) indicates that the sensor is capable of discriminating between 6 classes of PT exercises with 92% accuracy (2 classes with 96% accuracy).

I. Introduction

The goal of clinical physiotherapy (PT) is to help an injured person regain strength and full use of the injured limb. PT patients face many challenges as they recover. The main challenge is that PT is a long, tedious, and strenuous process, requiring repetitive exercises to increase range of motion and stamina. As such, patients frequently lose motivation and exhibit noncompliance since improvement is incremental and the exercises' difficulty scales up gradually over time. Forearm injuries, such as wrist fractures, can be extremely debilitating. Due to many factors during the healing process including muscle atrophy, pain, and tendon shortening, there is typically loss of function in the forearm and diminished manual dexterity. This often makes everyday activities significantly more difficult [1]. Noncompliance in PT is a common problem, and patients who lose motivation and do not complete their PT regimens may never regain full function in the injured limb [2].