Surface electromyography of facilitated versus free arm activation after stroke

The aim of this study is to determine if the amount of volitional muscle activation in a stroke affected arm is altered by facilitation. An experiment was designed in which surface EMG was recorded from the biceps brachii and triceps brachii of seven acute stroke patients, during three types of activities. Recordings are made during unassisted attempts at flexion and extension, weight bearing attempts through the arm, and therapist resistive facilitation. The results show that weight bearing and facilitation result in greater muscle activation, even in patients with fully paretic arms. Possible applications of this effect are discussed, particularly with regard to robotic therapy.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Hsiang, Mina

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Woodie Flowers.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/36785

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/36785