A new approach to quantify elbow position sense using an exoskeleton and a virtual reality display

Most of the proprioception assessments commonly used are not adapted for individuals who present multiple impairments after a stroke. Indeed, these assessments require certain motor or cognitive functions that are generally affected after a stroke. We have therefore developed a protocol, combining a robotic device and a virtual reality display, that enables the assessment of position sense without requiring active movement in the evaluated arm, involving the opposite arm or relying on working memory. As a preliminary step of validation, elbow joint position sense of healthy young adults was quantified and test-retest reliability was studied. Results show that this protocol can quantify elbow position sense of healthy young adults (mean detection threshold: around 7 degrees), with a fair to good test-retest reliability.