Muscle activity during robotic elbow flexion training using a newly developed upper limb single-joint hybrid assistive limb device for elbow flexor reconstruction after brachial plexus injury

Robotic elbow flexion training using a newly developed upper limb single-joint Hybrid Assistive Limb (upper limb HAL-SJ) was implemented for patients with elbow flexor reconstruction after brachial plexus injury (BPI). No serious adverse events were observed during upper limb HAL-SJ training in all patients. Improvement in elbow flexion power on manual muscle testing Grade 3 was observed in all patients after upper limb HAL-SJ training. Higher biceps muscle activity during HAL-SJ elbow flexion was observed compare to that with conventional biofeedback therapy. The upper limb HAL-SJ has the potential to be an effective rehabilitation tool in elbow flexor reconstruction after BPI.