Electromyography-Based Control of Lower Limb Prostheses: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Neuroprosthetics

Background:

• Lower limb amputations are common, yet advanced prosthetic legs do not yet utilize electromyography (EMG) for control.
• Despite technological progress, integrating EMG signals into prosthetic leg control remains an active research area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review current research on controlling lower limb prosthetics using electromyography (EMG) signals.
• To identify challenges and variations in methodologies for EMG-based prosthetic leg control.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct) up to June 2022.
• Included studies focused on prosthetic leg systems (ankle/knee actuators) controlled by decoding gait intent using EMG, alone or with other sensors.
• 1,331 papers were initially screened, with 121 ultimately included in the review.

Main Results:

• The review identified a growing research interest in EMG-controlled prosthetic legs.
• Significant challenges persist in EMG signal quality, electrode stability, prosthetic hardware, and control algorithms for practical application.
• Considerable heterogeneity was observed in control methods, participant types, recording protocols, assessments, and prosthetic hardware across studies.

Conclusions:

• Controlling prosthetic legs with EMG signals is complex and requires further advancements for robust, everyday use.
• Improvements in signal processing, hardware integration, and standardized control strategies are crucial for developing effective EMG-based lower limb prosthetics.