Every day, researchers around the world are working to improve the lives of those with limb differences. In today’s snapshot, we take a quick look at the work being done by the Neuromechanics and Rehabilitation Technology Group at the Imperial College London in the U.K.
What Are You Working On?
Our mission is to conduct fundamental research in neuromechanics and to translate the scientific knowledge into rehabilitation technologies. In other words, we want to understand how our movements are coordinated by electrical messages that are sent by the brain through the spine and nerves which then activate muscles. We use electromyography which records the electrical activity of muscles and decode these signals and we can also stimulate the nerves and muscles, too. To do this, we design and develop new technologies such as electrodes, perform computational modeling and signal processing.
Why Is It Important?
Our work allows us to predict limb movements to control prosthetic limbs so that users can use them intuitively. It also allows us to find treatments for neurological conditions such as tremor management for essential tremor & Parkinson’s disease patients, and to develop assistive technology such as for spinal cord injury. We aim to produce the next generation of man-machine interfaces.
Current Projects
Investigating Socket Sensation & Proprioception in Lower Limb Amputees
Related Information
For more information on upper-limb bionics, please see our Complete Guide to Bionic Arms & Hands.
For more information on lower-limb bionics, please see our Complete Guide to Bionic Legs & Feet.