An EMG-Modulated Asymmetric Arm Bike for Stroke Rehabilitation

Arm cycling has been proven to be an effective exercise for stroke rehabilitation. It strengthens the upper body, improves arm control, and can aid in restoring walking abilities. Promoting the engagement of the paretic arm is crucial, and tailoring the load to accommodate the limitations of the paretic side is a practical approach to encourage the safe use of this arm. We propose that the load modulation can be based on the EMG activity of the weaker side. This work assesses the feasibility of implementing arm cycling with asymmetric loading modulated by EMG activity and proposes a device design. We conducted two user experiments. The results of the first experiment show that asymmetric loading in arm cycling reduces peak activity in the targeted muscles. The second experiment underscores the potential to modulate the magnitude of the load using EMG activity.Clinical relevance- This work explores a novel approach to address motor impairments' unique and evolving challenges.