Virtual reality system for children lower limb strengthening with the use of electromyographic sensors

Abstract

This article presents a virtual system for children lower limb strengthening by using electromyographic sensors and the graphics motor Unity 3D. The system allows the acquisition and processing of electromyographic EMG signals through Bluetooth wireless communication which also allows to control virtual environments. Two videogames have been designed with different difficulty levels and easy execution, the interaction with the virtual environments generate muscle strengthening exercises. Moreover, five users have performed experimental tests (3 boys and 2 girls), the children are between 8 and 13 years old, the following inclusion criteria has been taken into account: users must have ages > 7 and < 14 years old and also must have any muscle affectation, additionally, the exclusion criteria is: the users who have any visual deficiency and/or several hearing impairment. Finally, users did perform the usability test SEQ with the following results (59.6 ± 0.33), which allows to know the acceptation level of the virtual system for children lower limb strengthening.