Research Project Doctoral Candidate 04

Virtual motor training of individuals with upper extremity amputations – Relative effects on movement variability and cognitive load

 

Fellow

Kai Wang

 

Host Institution

Jönköping University, Departmen of Rehabilitation

 

Supervisors

Prof. Dr. Nerrolyn Ramstrand

Prof. Dr. Dido Green

 

Project description

The focus of this project is on methods for optimising rehabilitation for upper-extremity prosthesis users. Upper extremity training protocols will be developed and evaluated using measures of movement variability and cortical brain activity. The project is embedded within the field of motor control and learning and is based on the premise that augmented variability in practice can enhance motor learning and rehabilitation.

 

(Planned) Secondment

King's College London

 

 

Project updates

June 2025

Half a year into the project, we are currently constructing the ethics application for the upcoming research related to 1) movement analysis with real upper-extremity prosthesis users; and 2) therapeutic training after being fitted with a myoelectric prosthesis. During this period, several piloting experiments have been conducted within the Jönköping Biomechanics and Movement Analysis Lab to test the feasibility and reliability of the testing equipment (e.g., motion capture systems, fNIRS neuroimaging device), procedure and methodology. Constructive discussions have been made and/or are to be made with scholars and occupational therapists in the fields of movement sciences and upper-extremity prosthetic rehabilitation at the ISPO2025 and upcoming ISB2025 conferences later this year.