Development of a muscle strength training device with variable resistance using pneumatic artificial rubber muscle

Abstract

A method to improve quality of life of elderly people is to increase muscular strength. The purpose of this study is to improve muscle strength effectively. In this paper, we propose a muscle strength training device that exerts variable resistance using pneumatic artificial rubber muscle (PARM). We developed a muscle strength training device for elbow movement by using a PARM and an arm curl machine. In addition, we observed the influence on electromyography (EMG) signals with predictable and unpredictable load patterns and compared the waveforms of the EMG signals in the patterns. Experimental results showed that there was a remarkable difference between the rising time and the maximum value of the muscle activity depending on predictability of load change and showed the possibility of effective muscle strength improvement.