Learning to Control Opening and Closing a Myoelectric Hand

• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.06.025
• Publication Date: 2010-08-31T05:53:56Z
• Authors: Hanneke Bouwsema; Corry K. van der ...; Raoul M. Bongers
• Keywords: DESIGNS; Adult; Male; Artificial Limbs; CAPACITY; PROSTHESIS; User-Computer Interface; 03 medical and health sciences; Humans; Learning; Computer Simulation; EFFECT SIZE; Electromyography; Rehabilitation; Equipment Design; PERFORMANCE; Hand; 16. Peace & justice; STATISTICS; AMPUTEES; Artificial limbs; Motor Skills; RELIABILITY; Female; 0305 other medical science

To compare 3 different types of myoelectric signal training.A cohort analytic study.University laboratory.Able-bodied right-handed participants (N=34) randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups.Participants trained hand opening and closing on 3 consecutive days. One group trained with a virtual myoelectric hand presented on a computer screen, 1 group trained with an isolated prosthetic hand, and 1 group trained with a prosthetic simulator. One half of the participants trained with their dominant side, and the other half trained with their nondominant side. Before and after the training period, a test was administered to determine the improvement in skill. Participants were asked to open and close the hand on 3 different velocities at command.Peak velocity, mean velocity, and number of peaks in the myoelectric signal of hand opening and closing.No differences were found for the different types of training; all participants learned to control the myoelectric hand. However, differences in learning abilities were revealed. After learning, a subgroup of the participants could produce clearly distinct myoelectric signals, which resulted in the ability to open and close the hand at 3 different speeds, whereas others could not produce distinct myoelectric signals.Acquired control of a myoelectric hand is irrespective of the type of training. Prosthetic users may differ in learning capacity; this should be taken into account when choosing the appropriate type of control for each patient.