A Framework for Physical Rehabilitation Using Natural User Interface with Electromyography Biofeedback

Physical rehabilitation is a medical specialty concerned with diagnosis, evaluation, and management of persons of all ages with physical impairment and disability [1]. Patients regain their muscle strength through physical therapy, which includes range of motion improvement. This thesis prepares a new framework to be used in physical rehabilitation exercises, and provide data for future assessments. Electromyography (EMG) biofeedback is unique in revealing what a muscle actually does at any moment during movement and postures. In a range of motion assessment, EMG allows the examiner to assess the activity of the muscles at every phase of the movement: it highlights hesitation in the movement, and how and when the muscles fire [2]. The proposed framework uses a natural user interface sensor to track joints’ positions in conjunction with EMG electromyography biofeedback to help physical rehabilitation. A prototype system was constructed and experiments were conducted to provide a proof of concept of using the framework. The experiment results show the benefits of using natural user interface in physical rehabilitation by measuring the range of motion angle and the distance a joint can move to its full potential angles [3] of the patient’s joints in conjunction with a wireless EMG sensor to assess the contribution of the muscle affected by the physical rehabilitation exercise.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Computer Science

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Akron

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Hassanien, Shehabeldin

Contributors dc:contributor

• Xiao, Yingcai

• Computer Science
• FRAMEWORK
• NATURAL USER INTERFACE
• NUI
• PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
• BIOFEEDBACK
• ELECTROMYOGRAPHY

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1354205753

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:akron1354205753