Investigation of EMG parameter for transtibial prosthetic user with flexion and extension of the knee and normal walking gait: A preliminary study

Abstract

Electromyography signal has been used widely as input for prosthetic’s leg movements. C-Leg, for example, is among the prosthetics devices that use electromyography as the main input. The main challenge facing the industrial party is the position of the electromyography sensor as it is fixed inside the socket. The study aims to investigate the best positional parameter of electromyography for transtibial prosthetic users for the device to be effective in multiple movement activities and compare with normal human muscle’s activities. DELSYS Trigno wireless electromyography instrument was used in this study to achieve this aim. Ten non-amputee subjects and two transtibial amputees were involved in this study. The surface electromyography signals were recorded from two anterior and posterior below the knee muscles and above the knee muscles, respectively: tibial anterior and gastrocnemius lateral head as well as rectus femoris and biceps femoris during two activities (flexion and extension of knee joint and gait cycle for normal walking). The result during flexion and extension activities for gastrocnemius lateral head and biceps femoris muscles was found to be more useful for the control subjects, while the tibial anterior and also gastrocnemius lateral head are more active for amputee subjects. Also, during normal walking activity for biceps femoris and gastrocnemius lateral head, it was more useful for the control subjects, while for transtibial amputee subject-1, the rectus femoris was the highest signal of the average normal walking activity (0.0001 V) compared to biceps femoris (0.00007 V), as for transtibial amputee subject-2, the biceps femoris was the highest signals of the average normal walking activity (0.0001 V) compared to rectus femoris (0.00004 V). So, it is difficult to rely entirely on the static positioning of the electromyography sensor within the socket as there is a possibility of the sensor to contact with inactive muscle, which will be a gap in the control, leading to a decrease in the functional efficiency of the powered prostheses.

Investigation of EMG Parameters for Transtibial Amputees While Treadmill Walking with Different Speeds: A Preliminary Study

“…Passive prostheses depend on inert components to partially iterate amputees' walking movements. In comparison, active prostheses were integrated with an actuator in manufacturing processes to boost and propel the prosthesis and add kinetic energy, which improved amputees' gait cycles to be as normal as possible [4].…”

A FSR Sensor Cuff to Measure Muscle Activation During Strength and Gait Cycle for Lower Limb

“…Electromyography (EMG) is employed to analyze various motion activities, including gait cycle, lifting loads, jogging, squatting, and other kinds of activities for the upper limb or the lower limb amputees which would enhance the rehabilitation processes for prosthesis users [29][30][31][32][33][34]. EMG sensors are divided into two types: surface EMG (sEMG), and intramuscular EMG sensors (imEMG).…”