Technological platform for biomechanical analysis of static and dynamic tests of upper and lower limbs

Abstract

One of the most important elements for the rehabilitation process regards to the correct evaluation of the biomechanical and the electrophysiological responses. This evaluation must be done during the therapy. In general, the improvements achieved by the treatment are slightly and difficult to be distinguished. This is a difficult task when the changes in the signals obtained by the bio-amplifiers (EMG, electro-goniometry, etc) are evaluated by a wired system because the patient cannot interact with its environment freely. The present work tackles the design, construction and implementation of a platform to carry out biomechanical analysis for upper and lower limbs. The included variables in the biomechanical system are the angular position, linear acceleration, electromyography signals and force executed by the limbs. The designed scheme considers the wireless monitoring of relevant signals; such variables allow us to analyze the effectiveness achieved by the therapy. Processing and data exhibition are carry out in a personal computer. Two application examples regarding the biomechanical wrist evaluation and the EMG correlation are presented. Nonlinear algorithms to analyze the information obtained in the system are used to evaluate the biomechanical responses produced in different patients.