Subject-Specific EMG Pattern Classification for Effective Rehabilitation of Stroke Survivors

Many stroke survivors experience chronic upper extremity impairment that leads to significant functional limitations. Especially for those with more severe impairment, therapeutic treatment may have limited effect. Thus, the introduction of assistive techniques, such as powered orthoses, may prove more beneficial in improving function. A challenge, however, lies in providing volitional control of the device to the user. Electromyography (EMG) of muscle has been used with stroke survivors to trigger myoelectric prostheses [1], but the number of the targeted motions and their complexity was limited.