Elasticity improves handgrip performance and user experience during visuomotor control
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Passive rehabilitation devices, providing motivation and
feedback, potentially offer an automated and low-cost therapy
method, and can be used as simple human–machine interfaces.
Here, we ask whether there is any advantage for a handtraining
device to be elastic, as opposed to rigid, in terms of
performance and preference. To address this question, we have
developed a highly sensitive and portable digital handgrip,
promoting independent and repetitive rehabilitation of grasp
function based around a novel elastic force and position sensing
structure. A usability study was performed on 66 healthy
subjects to assess the effect of elastic versus rigid handgrip
control during various visuomotor tracking tasks. The results
indicate that, for tasks relying either on feedforward or on
feedback control, novice users perform significantly better
with the elastic handgrip, compared with the rigid equivalent
(11% relative improvement, 9–14% mean range; p < 0.01).
Furthermore, there was a threefold increase in the number of
subjects who preferred elastic compared with rigid handgrip
interaction. Our results suggest that device compliance is an
important design consideration for grip training devices.
feedback, potentially offer an automated and low-cost therapy
method, and can be used as simple human–machine interfaces.
Here, we ask whether there is any advantage for a handtraining
device to be elastic, as opposed to rigid, in terms of
performance and preference. To address this question, we have
developed a highly sensitive and portable digital handgrip,
promoting independent and repetitive rehabilitation of grasp
function based around a novel elastic force and position sensing
structure. A usability study was performed on 66 healthy
subjects to assess the effect of elastic versus rigid handgrip
control during various visuomotor tracking tasks. The results
indicate that, for tasks relying either on feedforward or on
feedback control, novice users perform significantly better
with the elastic handgrip, compared with the rigid equivalent
(11% relative improvement, 9–14% mean range; p < 0.01).
Furthermore, there was a threefold increase in the number of
subjects who preferred elastic compared with rigid handgrip
interaction. Our results suggest that device compliance is an
important design consideration for grip training devices.
Date Issued
2017-02-15
Date Acceptance
2017-01-17
Citation
Royal Society Open Science, 2017, 4 (2)
ISSN
2054-5703
Publisher
Royal Society, The
Journal / Book Title
Royal Society Open Science
Volume
4
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Commission of the European Communities
Commission of the European Communities
Commission of the European Communities
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000394469300040&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
PITN-GA-2012-317488
601003
611626
644727
EP/N032772/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
handgrip interface
elastic
isometric
rehabilitation
grip force
JOINT POSITION SENSE
QUALITY-OF-LIFE
PROPRIOCEPTION
REHABILITATION
FORCE
TASK
VARIABILITY
POPULATION
ADAPTATION
PREVALENCE
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 160961