A myofeedback instrument for clinical use

As a result of a collaborative effort by engineers, physical therapists, and patients, a myofeedback device called Myochirp was designed and constructed. This device was field-tested in six busy medical centers to determine its acceptance and usefulness to clinicians in the daily activities of their environments. As a result of this field evaluation, a second-generation device was constructed incorporating the suggested improvements. The second-generation Myochirp was accepted by physical therapists as a compact, portable, and lightweight device that was convenient and easy to use. The salient feature of the device which rendered it so useful in clinical environments was the dry electrode used to detect the electromyographic signals. Its usefulness as a myofeedback instrument was determined by the variety of its applications to treatment needs and by its ability to obtain immediate and quantifiable data that could be documented.