Development of a wearable haptic feedback system for limb movement symmetry training

Abstract

Arm swing asymmetry brought on by hemiparesis or hemi-neglect due to stroke causes increased ground reaction moments during walking. Thus, increasing loading asymmetry of the lower limbs and the metabolic load of walking. The system presented here consists of wearable bracelets, designed to help decrease arm swing asymmetry in people with stroke. Design of the bracelets and outcomes of pilot tests with a healthy subject with artificially induced arm swing asymmetry are presented. The healthy subject was able to utilize the vibration feedback to reduce arm swing asymmetry with involuntary increase in arm swing magnitude. Thus, exploration of the effects of using this system with stroke patients is warranted. ? Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.