Clinical Research Directory

Characterization of Muscle Activity During a Surface EMG-controlled Rehabilitation Game

The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate muscular activity during a single session of surface electromyography controlled exergame (muscle activation, number of contraction…) in cerebral palsy kids, hemiparetic adults and healthy controls. Secondary aims are to assess different game mode (one-player, coactive two-player or competitive two-player and different gameplay (a rhythm and a platform gameplay) on muscle activation, number of contraction and on participant's experiences. Another aim is to assess enjoyment, motivation, flow and usability in hemiparetics adults.

Improving Arm Function Using Wearable Exoskeletons

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare arm and hand function with and without assistance from a wearable exoskeleton in individuals with neurological injury from a single stroke. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can a portable (i.e., body-mounted) shoulder exoskeleton increase the reachable workspace of an individual after stroke? * Can shoulder assistance from a body-mounted exoskeleton improve hand function after stroke? * Does shoulder assistance from a body-mounted exoskeleton lead to changes in functional use of the impaired limb at home? Participants will perform tasks with and without assistance from a portable exoskeleton, including: * maximal area sweeps in each of three directional planes (sagittal, frontal, transverse). * simultaneous wrist and finger extension while attempting to pick up objects of varying size from the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), and Box and Blocks (BBT) test kits. * standardized clinical assessments in a laboratory setting that have been shown to correlate with functional performance of activities of daily living including WMFT, ARAT, and BBT. * a Motor Activity Log (MAL) based on activity performed in the past week as a baseline, before wearing the exoskeleton at home for a period of 1-2 hours per day for at least 5 days. * a System Usability Scale and a second MAL corresponding with the activities performed while wearing the exoskeleton during the at-home phase. Researchers will compare functional ability measures with and without wearing the portable shoulder exoskeleton to see if the assistance improves functional performance in the arm and/or hand.