Surface Electromyogram Based Techniques for Upper and Lower Extremity Rehabilitation Therapy - A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

In the last few decades, prosthetics has gained a noteworthy advancement within the therapeutic and bio-mechanics field. Prosthesis is originally a part of the bio-mechanics field, the science of combining electro-mechanical devices with human muscles, skeleton, nervous systems, etc. The prosthetic limbs are fantastically valuable to amputees in delivering their daily work, thereby providing a great support in the patient rehabilitation. This article focuses on the background of upper and lower limb prosthetics, the signal processing techniques, classification algorithms used and its applications for patient rehabilitation. Surface EMG (sEMG) based prostheses has been picking up in the rehabilitation field as technology progresses. The limb with EMG sensors measures and decode the electrical impulses in the muscles of the residual limb and then translate it into movement. Thus, the user is able to activate the bionic limb on his own thinking. Such developing novel technologies has revolutionized the field of prosthetics. It could be a milestone in bridging the gap between disability and ability, between human limitation and human potential.