Dataset Information

Use of an EMG-Controlled Game as a Therapeutic Tool to Retrain Hand Muscle Activation Patterns Following Stroke: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background/purpose

To determine the feasibility of training with electromyographically (EMG) controlled games to improve control of muscle activation patterns in stroke survivors.

Methods

Twenty chronic stroke survivors (>6 months) with moderate hand impairment were randomized to train either unilaterally (paretic only) or bilaterally over 9 one-hour training sessions. EMG signals from the unilateral or bilateral limbs controlled a cursor location on a computer screen for gameplay. The EMG muscle activation vector was projected onto the plane defined by the first 2 principal components of the activation workspace for the nonparetic hand. These principal components formed the x- and y-axes of the computer screen.

Results

The recruitment goal (n = 20) was met over 9 months, with no screen failure, no attrition, and 97.8% adherence rate. After training, both groups significantly decreased the time to move the cursor to a novel sequence of targets (P = 0.006) by reducing normalized path length of the cursor movement (P = 0.005), and improved the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) quality score (P = 0.01). No significant group difference was observed. No significant change was seen in the WMFT time or Box and Block Test.

Discussion/conclusions

Stroke survivors could successfully use the EMG-controlled games to train control of muscle activation patterns. While the nonparetic limb EMG was used in this study to create target EMG patterns, the system supports various means for creating target patterns per user desires. Future studies will employ training with the EMG-controlled games in conjunction with functional task practice for a longer intervention duration to improve overall hand function.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A379).

SUBMITTER: Seo NJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9232857 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Use of an EMG-Controlled Game as a Therapeutic Tool to Retrain Hand Muscle Activation Patterns Following Stroke: A Pilot Study.

Seo Na Jin NJ Barry Alex A Ghassemi Mohammad M Triandafilou Kristen M KM Stoykov Mary Ellen ME Vidakovic Lynn L Roth Elliot E Kamper Derek G DG

Journal of neurologic physical therapy : JNPT 20220322 3

<h4>Background/purpose</h4>To determine the feasibility of training with electromyographically (EMG) controlled games to improve control of muscle activation patterns in stroke survivors.<h4>Methods</h4>Twenty chronic stroke survivors (>6 months) with moderate hand impairment were randomized to train either unilaterally (paretic only) or bilaterally over 9 one-hour training sessions. EMG signals from the unilateral or bilateral limbs controlled a cursor location on a computer screen for gameplay ...[more]

PMID: 35320135

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Dataset Information

Use of an EMG-Controlled Game as a Therapeutic Tool to Retrain Hand Muscle Activation Patterns Following Stroke: A Pilot Study.

Background/purpose

Methods

Results

Discussion/conclusions

Publications

Use of an EMG-Controlled Game as a Therapeutic Tool to Retrain Hand Muscle Activation Patterns Following Stroke: A Pilot Study.

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