Background Recently, a lot of visual feedback training equipment using the
electromyography in a mobile environment has been developed. These devices are
small, easy to use, and inexpensive. Despite the various advantages of such
equipment, it is still not widely used in the clinical field, and research on it
is lacking.
Objective The purpose of this study is to introduce the mobile-based
electromyography visual feedback training equipment and evaluate the usability
for the muscle activity improvements in stroke patients.
Methods This study was conducted in 12 patient with chronic stroke. To
evaluate the usability of mobile-based electromyography training equipment, this
research compared the immediate effects of the traditional tactile feedback
training and the mobile-based electromyography training on 12 stroke patients.
The MVIC muscle activity of the tibialis anterior, quadriceps femoris and
gluteus maximus as well as the range of motion of the ankle dorsiflexion, hip
joint extension and knee joint extension were measured before and after
intervention.
Resutls As a result of this study, the tibialis anterior, quadriceps
femoris, and gluteus maximus muscle activity were all significantly different in
mobile-based electromyography visual feedback training. In the comparison of the
effects on the range of motion, there was a significant difference in
mobile-based electromyography visual feedback training only in the knee
extension.
Conclusions Mobile-based electromyography visual feedback training is
expected to be able to improve muscle activity and range of motion in stroke
patients more effectively than conventional tactile training.