Effect of Introducing EMG Biofeedback to a Finger Extensor Facilitation Training Device for Hemiplegic Patients after Strokes

Biofeedback systems have been developing rapidly in recent years as rehabilitation methods for hemiplegic stroke patients. To investigate the value of such systems for the rehabilitation of these patients, we complemented the Useful and Ultimate Rehabilitation System PARKO (UR-System-PARKO) with a biofeedback system that had an A-B-A-B design, to see if together, patients saw more improvement in a shorter timespan in the control of the extensor muscles in their hands. The biofeedback system was tested without therapist participation. We evaluated the effectiveness of each training trial by recording electromyography (EMG) signals for the extensor and flexor digitorum muscles. By comparing the EMG values from each trial, we were able to conclude that the training with the UR-System-PARKO became more effective when the biofeedback system was applied. This also demonstrated that, by using a biofeedback system, it would be possible for stroke hemiplegic patients to conduct highly efficient self-rehabilitation.