Electromyographic analysis of upper limb muscles for automatic wheelchair propulsion control
Analiza elektromiograficzna miȩśni kończyn górnych do automatycznej kontroli napȩdu wózka inwalidzkiego
Wieczorek B. Warguła Ł. Gierz Ł. Zharkevich O. Nikonova T. Sydor M.
2024Wydawnictwo SIGMA-NOT
Przeglad Elektrotechniczny
2024Issue 116 - 11 pp.
Equipping hand-propelled wheelchairs with supplementary power assistance systems combining the advantages of manual and electric wheelchairs. The study aims to develop innovative automatic steering strategies for assistive drive systems. Our approach involves regulating the intensity of power assistance using one upper arms electromyography (EMG) signals, significantly simplifying the control system. However, the inherent asymmetry between the actions of the right and left upper limbs (handedness) poses a challenge. To address this, we set out to identify the upper limb muscle group exhibiting the least propelling asymmetry between the left and right sides, thereby determining the most suitable candidate for controlling the assistive drive of a wheelchair. The study used a standard manual-powered wheelchair and a single non-disabled research participant. Muscle activity in each upper limb during wheelchair propulsion was measured using EMG equipment. Eight muscle examinations were performed on each upper limb: biceps brachii (A), triceps brachii (B), medial epicondyle (C), extensor carpi radialis longus (D), anterior epicondyle (E), posterior epicondyle (F), trapezius, middle region (G), and subscapularis (H). The mean maximal muscle EMG signal was analyzed based on six cycles of wheelchair propulsion. The asymmetry of EMG values for the left and right limbs can vary from 15% to 53%, depending on the muscle studied. Our findings reveal that the D muscle displays the least muscular asymmetry during wheelchair propulsion, suggesting that the tension signals of this muscle can effectively regulate the intensity of assisted wheelchair propulsion.
assistive technology , hybrid drive , laterality , muscle asymmetry
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Institute of Machine Design, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Poland
Department of Technological Equipment, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Standardization, Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University, Kazakhstan
Department of Woodworking and Fundamentals of Machine Design, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland
Institute of Machine Design
Department of Technological Equipment
Department of Woodworking and Fundamentals of Machine Design
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