Advanced Wheelchair Rehabilitation: Surface EMG-augmented 9-DoF System for Upper and Lower Limb

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Rehabilitation is crucial for motor function recovery.
• Advanced robotic systems offer effective therapeutic solutions.
• Current systems often focus on single limb or have limited mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce XoRehab, a novel exoskeleton system.
• To integrate upper and lower limb mechanisms for comprehensive therapy.
• To enable home-based rehabilitation through IoT and EMG integration.

Main Methods:

• Development of a wheelchair-based exoskeleton system (XoRehab).
• Integration of Electromyography (EMG) for recovery assessment.
• Implementation of an Internet of Things (IoT) framework for remote access.
• Design for patients with hemiplegia, paraplegia, and tetraplegia.

Main Results:

• Successful development of the XoRehab system prototype.
• Conducted experiments demonstrating various muscle movements.
• Captured and analyzed muscle movement data using EMG signals.

Conclusions:

• The integrated XoRehab system offers a unified solution for upper and lower limb rehabilitation.
• EMG monitoring and IoT connectivity enhance therapeutic effectiveness and accessibility.
• The system shows promise for improving patient recovery and enabling remote care.