BackgroundA direct blow to the knee is one way to injure the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), e.g., during a football or traffic accident. Robot-assisted therapy (RAT) rehabilitation, simulating regular walking, improves walking and balance abilities, and extensor strength after ACL reconstruction. However, there is a need to perform RAT during other phases of ACL injury rehabilitation before attempting an advanced exercise such as walking. This paper aims to propose a myoelectric control (MEC) algorithm for a robot-assisted rehabilitation system, “Nukawa”, to assist knee movement during these types of exercises, i.e., such as in active-assisted extension exercises.MethodsSurface electromyography (sEMG) signal processing algorithm was developed to detect the motion intention of the knee joint. The sEMG signal processing algorithm and the movement control algorithm, reported by the authors in a previous publication, were joined together as a hardware-in-the-loop simulation to create and test the MEC algorithm, instead of using the actual robot.Experiments and resultsAn experimental protocol was conducted with 17 healthy subjects to acquire sEMG signals and their lower limb kinematics during 12 ACL rehabilitation exercises. The proposed motion intention algorithm detected the orientation of the intention 100% of the times for the extension and flexion exercises. Also, it detected in 94% and 59% of the cases the intensity of the movement intention in a comparable way to the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) during extension exercises and flexion exercises, respectively. The maximum position mean absolute error was , , and for the hip, knee, and ankle joints, respectively.ConclusionsThe MEC algorithm detected the intensity of the movement intention, approximately, in a comparable way to the MVC and the orientation. Moreover, it requires no prior training or additional torque sensors. Also, it controls the speed of the knee joint of Nukawa to assist the knee movement, i.e., such as in active-assisted extension exercises.

Computational power and interconnection capacities have contributed smartphones and tablets to become an essential tool to medical sector. Developed countries have demonstrated that mobile devices may be considered as equipment for tracking, monitoring, reading updating and treatment assistance; hence, they will be portable health care support machines. We have developed a mobile application for ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring based on Android and iOS (iPhone Operating System), which contributes to proceed with accuracy in daily activities connecting different zones. The application, composed by buttons, switches, sliders and rotating screens, runs under two scenarios: patient and doctor mode, allowing medical personnel to define different configurations. Both modes permit users to visualize in real time captured readings and tracings. Its advantages have increased in capabilities and decreased complexities, becoming one of the main instruments at hospital environments. It has been proven that such devices have better performance through the usage of cloud computing services, low power consumption and low number of connections. This paper aims to stimulate medical personnel the use of capacities for mobile devices through medical applications and guide diagnose procedures with efficiency.

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Worldwide there are approximately 3,308 records of landmine victims during a year. 67% of them suffered injuries which require physical rehabilitation. This paper presents a data acquisition system for landmine victims rehabilitation, interfaced with a videogame, which enables to interact with a racing game. The therapist can set the minimum speed required for the rehabilitation and analyze the forces and speed developed while pedaling. The conceptual development incorporates a commercial static bicycle, sensors to measure the pedaling force, an optic sensor to measure the speed, and command buttons to control the videogame. In order to evaluate the system, the sensors were characterized and tested, and a survey was conducted to 20 physiotherapists in order to evaluate the perception of ergonomics, safety and possible benefits of the data acquisition system for rehabilitation of landmine victims. 70%, 90% and 80% of the physiotherapists, respectively, assessed these characteristics as High level. Moreover, at least 85% of them agrees with nine possible benefits for rehabilitation of landmine explosion victim. Therefore, it is proposed that the data acquisition system can be used as a serious game that supports rehabilitation therapies of people with a prosthesis due to this cause.