Development and Evaluation of Virtual Reality Exercise System Based on EMG Feedback for Trunk Core Muscle Activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 326-332
Author(s):  
K. S. Song ◽  
D. S. Kim ◽  
H. J. Lee ◽  
K. S. Tae
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Emg Feedback

scholarly journals Development of a Virtual Reality Simulator for an Intelligent Robotic System Used in Ankle Rehabilitation

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1537
Author(s):  
Florin Covaciu ◽  
Adrian Pisla ◽  
Anca-Elena Iordan
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Robotic System ◽  
Virtual Reality Simulator ◽  
Robotic Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Process ◽  
Leg Muscles ◽  
Ankle Rehabilitation ◽  
And Control

The traditional systems used in the physiotherapy rehabilitation process are evolving towards more advanced systems that use virtual reality (VR) environments so that the patient in the rehabilitation process can perform various exercises in an interactive way, thus improving the patient’s motivation and reducing the therapist’s work. The paper presents a VR simulator for an intelligent robotic system of physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of the ankle of a person who has had a stroke. This simulator can interact with a real human subject by attaching a sensor that contains a gyroscope and accelerometer to identify the position and acceleration of foot movement on three axes. An electromyography (EMG) sensor is also attached to the patient’s leg muscles to measure muscle activity because a patient who is in a worse condition has weaker muscle activity. The data collected from the sensors are taken by an intelligent module that uses machine learning to create new levels of exercise and control of the robotic rehabilitation structure of the virtual environment. Starting from these objectives, the virtual reality simulator created will have a low dependence on the therapist, this being the main improvement over other simulators already created for this purpose.

Task-Oriented and Imitation-Oriented Movements in Virtual Reality Exercise Performance and Design

2021 ◽  
pp. 001872082110101
Author(s):  
Ken Chen ◽  
Karen B. Chen
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Flexion Angle ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Shoulder Muscles ◽  
Shoulder Flexion ◽  
Game Features ◽  
Task Oriented

Objective This study investigated the influence of game features and practice type on human kinematic and muscular performance in a virtual reality exercise (VRE). Participants demonstrated changes in shoulder flexion angle and muscle activation under different virtual scenarios. Background Conventional VRE studies often compared the outcomes between an experimental group that underwent exercise in VR and a real-world exercise control group, whereas comparisons between VRE programs are lacking. Besides, the attributes of VREs received little attention. Method Thirteen able-bodied participants performed upper extremity exercise movements in immersive VR using a head-mounted display. Participants performed task-oriented and imitation-oriented movements with different game features. Shoulder muscle activity (the deltoid, supraspinatus, and infraspinatus) and shoulder motion were collected. Results Practice type (task-oriented, imitation-oriented) significantly influenced the flexion angle of the shoulder complex ( F(1,11) = 9.53, p = .01), and the muscle activity of the supraspinatus ( F(1,9) = 12.61, p = .006) and the infraspinatus ( F(1,9) = 12.71, p = .006). Game features did not have a statistically significant effect on shoulder flexion angle or shoulder muscles’ activations. Conclusions Compared to imitation-oriented practice, task-oriented practice elicited more intensive shoulder movements and muscular efforts but also induced greater movement variations. Substantial differences across game features levels should be further investigated to have significant effects. Applications This research may help guide the design of future VREs. For strength training or rehabilitation where intensive practice is required, task-oriented practice should be considered; for movement learning where movement consistency is required, imitation oriented practice should be adopted.

scholarly journals A Virtual Reality Muscle–Computer Interface for Neurorehabilitation in Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 3754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octavio Marin-Pardo ◽  
Christopher M. Laine ◽  
Miranda Rennie ◽  
Kaori L. Ito ◽  
James Finley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Chronic Stroke ◽  
Stroke Recovery ◽  
Brain Computer Interfaces ◽  
Chronic Stage ◽  
Computer Interfaces ◽  
Standard Clinical Practice

Severe impairment of limb movement after stroke can be challenging to address in the chronic stage of stroke (e.g., greater than 6 months post stroke). Recent evidence suggests that physical therapy can still promote meaningful recovery after this stage, but the required high amount of therapy is difficult to deliver within the scope of standard clinical practice. Digital gaming technologies are now being combined with brain–computer interfaces to motivate engaging and frequent exercise and promote neural recovery. However, the complexity and expense of acquiring brain signals has held back widespread utilization of these rehabilitation systems. Furthermore, for people that have residual muscle activity, electromyography (EMG) might be a simpler and equally effective alternative. In this pilot study, we evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an EMG-based variant of our REINVENT virtual reality (VR) neurofeedback rehabilitation system to increase volitional muscle activity while reducing unintended co-contractions. We recruited four participants in the chronic stage of stroke recovery, all with severely restricted active wrist movement. They completed seven 1-hour training sessions during which our head-mounted VR system reinforced activation of the wrist extensor muscles without flexor activation. Before and after training, participants underwent a battery of clinical and neuromuscular assessments. We found that training improved scores on standardized clinical assessments, equivalent to those previously reported for brain–computer interfaces. Additionally, training may have induced changes in corticospinal communication, as indexed by an increase in 12–30 Hz corticomuscular coherence and by an improved ability to maintain a constant level of wrist muscle activity. Our data support the feasibility of using muscle–computer interfaces in severe chronic stroke, as well as their potential to promote functional recovery and trigger neural plasticity.

Design and Evaluation of a Portable Laparoscopic Training System Using Virtual Reality

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Zahiri ◽  
Ryan Booton ◽  
Ka-Chun Siu ◽  
Carl A. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Image Processing ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Laparoscopic Surgery ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Completion Time ◽  
Training System ◽  
Surgical Instruments ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
P Value ◽  
Training Time

The ubiquitous nature of laparoscopic surgery and the decreased training time available for surgeons are driving an increased need for effective training systems to help surgeons learn different procedures. A cost-effective and user-friendly simulator has been designed to imitate specific training tasks for laparoscopic surgery in virtual environments via image processing and computer vision. The capability of using various actual surgical instruments suited for these specific procedures gives heightened fidelity to the simulator. Image processing via matlab software provides real-time mapping of the graspers in the workspace to the virtual reality (VR) environment (vizard software). Two different tasks (peg transfer and needle passing) were designed to evaluate trainees and compare their performance with characteristics of expert surgeons. Pilot testing of the system was carried out with 11 subjects to validate the similarity of this device with an existing surgical box trainer. Task completion time and muscle activity have been used as metrics for evaluation. The decrease in completion time for all subjects suggests similarity of skills transfer for both simulators. In addition, the p-value of muscle activity showed no significant differences for most muscles in the peg transfer task when using either the VR or physical analog environment and no significant differences for about half of the muscles in the needle passing task. Based on the results, the new proposed VR simulator appears to be a viable alternative to help trainees gain laparoscopic skills.

scholarly journals Protocol study for a randomised, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial involving virtual reality and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation for the improvement of upper limb motor function in children with Down syndrome

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamile Benite Palma Lopes ◽  
Luanda André Collange Grecco ◽  
Renata Calhes Franco de Moura ◽  
Roberta Delasta Lazzari ◽  
Natalia de Almeida Carvalho Duarte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Upper Limb ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Motor Training ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Double Blind Clinical Trial ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionDown syndrome results in neuromotor impairment that affects selective motor control, compromising the acquisition of motor skills and functional independence. The aim of the proposed study is to evaluate and compare the effects of multiple-monopolar anodal transcranial direct current stimulation and sham stimulation over the primary motor cortex during upper limb motor training involving virtual reality on motor control, muscle activity, cerebral activity and functional independence.Methods and analysisA randomised, controlled, double-blind, clinical trial is proposed. The calculation of the sample size will be defined based on the results of a pilot study involving the same methods. The participants will be randomly allocated to two groups. Evaluations will be conducted before and after the intervention as well as 1 month after the end of the intervention process. At each evaluation, three-dimensional analysis of upper limb movement muscle activity will be measured using electromyography, cerebral activity will be measured using an electroencephalogram system and intellectual capacity will be assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Virtual reality training will be performed three times a week (one 20 min session per day) for a total of 10 sessions. During the protocol, transcranial stimulation will be administered concomitantly to upper limb motor training. The results will be analysed statistically, with a p value≤0.05 considered indicative of statistical significance.Ethical aspects and publicityThe present study received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Universidade Nove de Julho (Sao Paulo,Brazil) under process number 1.540.113 and is registered with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (N° RBR3PHPXB). The participating institutions have presented a declaration of participation. The volunteers will be permitted to drop out of the study at any time with no negative repercussions. The results will be published and will contribute evidence regarding the use of this type of intervention on children.

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