Abstract:
The use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) in the rehabilitation of paraplegic and tetraplegic individuals has been under investigation. However, in order to use this technique beyond the laboratory, there is the need of well elaborated control strategies Among these strategies, the monitoring of myoelectric (EMG) signals seems to be very promising. A real-time system could detect and analyse the surface myoelectric signals from the musculature of the trunk and upper limbs (under volitive control by the patient), as well as detect the body movement when the patient wants to perform a step. A comparison between the intensity of the myoelectric signal and a reference threshold was tried, but it didn't yield good results. order to analyse the surface myoelectric signal more deeply in order to find control patterns for NMES control, a system for digital EMG signal analysis has been developed.
