An EMG-based human-machine interface to play the drums in rehabilitation

In recent years, music has become a valuable tool for rehabilitation, with its therapeutic effects increasingly acknowledged in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Musical instruments like the piano, guitar, violin, and drums have been used in rehabilitation settings to enhance patient engagement and motivation. Drums, in particular, have been recognized for their effectiveness due to the rhythmic and cyclical movements involved in tasks. These rhythmic activities can lead to more efficient brain changes and adaptations, contributing to a more effective rehabilitation process. The integration of sensor-based controls into digital musical instruments has enabled more precise and personalized rehabilitation therapy. By incorporating electromyography (EMG)-based human-machine interfaces (HMI), it becomes possible to track and analyze a patient's movements more effectively, facilitating targeted rehabilitation interventions. This thesis project aims to develop an EMG-based HMI that enables patients with spinal cord injury and post-stroke to control a virtual drum during rehabilitation sessions. A graphical user interface (GUI), named Drum-Rehab, was developed through collaborative input from a multidisciplinary team of experts. Drum-Rehab offers users the capability to record their EMG signals while interacting with the virtual instrument, which provides guidance for executing specific rhythms. Through offline calibration of the EMG-HMI, users can determine the activation thresholds of four EMG sensors, enabling real-time performance control of the virtual drums. This thesis contributes to the growing body of research on the integration of music therapy and technology in rehabilitation medicine and highlights the potential of EMG-HMIs in facilitating targeted rehabilitation interventions. Future studies can build on this work by focusing on enhancing the system’s usability and portability, enabling patients to utilize it also in their own homes for extended periods.