Arami Arash, Tagliamonte Nevio L, Tamburella Federica, Huang Hsieng-Yung, Molinari Marco, Burdet Etienne
IEEE Int Conf Rehabil Robot. 2017 Jul;2017:1590-1596. doi: 10.1109/ICORR.2017.8009475.
This work presents a wearable device and the algorithms for quantitative modelling of joint spasticity and its application in a pilot group of subjects with different levels of spinal cord injury. The device comprises light-weight instrumented handles to measure the interaction force between the subject and the physical therapist performing the tests, EMG sensors and inertial measurement units to measure muscle activity and joint kinematics. Experimental tests included the passive movement of different body segments, where the spasticity was expected, at different velocities. Tonic stretch reflex thresholds and their velocity modulation factor are computed, as a quantitative index of spasticity, by using the kinematics data at the onset of spasm detected through thresholding the EMG data. This technique was applied to two spinal cord injury subjects. The proposed method allowed the analysis of spasticity at muscle and joint levels. The obtained results are in line with the expert diagnosis and qualitative spasticity characterisation on each individual.
这项工作展示了一种可穿戴设备以及用于关节痉挛定量建模的算法，及其在一组不同程度脊髓损伤受试者中的应用。该设备包括用于测量受试者与进行测试的物理治疗师之间相互作用力的轻质仪器化手柄、用于测量肌肉活动和关节运动学的肌电图（EMG）传感器和惯性测量单元。实验测试包括对预期出现痉挛的不同身体节段以不同速度进行被动运动。通过对肌电图数据进行阈值处理来检测痉挛发作时的运动学数据，计算强直牵张反射阈值及其速度调制因子，作为痉挛的定量指标。该技术应用于两名脊髓损伤受试者。所提出的方法允许在肌肉和关节水平上分析痉挛。获得的结果与专家诊断以及对每个个体的定性痉挛特征相符。
