The Motion Change of Forearm Pronation/Supination with Vibration Stimulation for Upper-Limb Perception-Assist

Human elbow joint flexion/extension motion can be changed by giving vibration stimulation on biceps brachii or triceps brachii. Our final goal is to carry out the upper-limb perception-assist by using this method. In the upper-limb perception-assist, not only elbow joint motion but also some other joint motions should be changed. This study focused on the motion change of forearm's supination/pronation using vibration stimulation. To investigate the possibility of the motion change of forearm's supination/pronation, some experiments were carried out in this study. At first, vibration stimulation was given to supinator muscle or pronator teres muscle during single supination/pronation of forearm. Then, vibration stimulation was given to the same muscles during continuous supination/pronation. The experimental results show that the motion change of supination/pronation can be generated by giving vibration stimulation on supinator muscle or pronator teres muscle. Furthermore, it is found that the motion change of supination/pronation can be generated soon after vibration stimulation is given to those muscles during continuous supination/pronation.