Abstract

In this study, we proposed a new treatment method and developed a new treatment system for improving the active dorsiflexion motion of the ankle joint of the hemiplegic lower extremity. This system consists of an electrical stimulator, a voluntary EMG signal detector, ankle joint motion aids with a goniometer, and a visual feedback display. The system's performance was evaluated on five chronic hemiplegic patients through 12 treatment sessions over a period of three months. No active dorsiflexion had been observed in any of the patients since they had strokes. However, each patient's active range of motion increased obviously at the first treatment session. Furthermore, during the twelve treatment sessions, three of the five patients showed continuous increase in active range of motion. These results indicated that this treatment method was extremely effective and had excellent potential for improving the active dorsiflexion motion of the ankle joint of the hemiplegic lower extremity.