EMG Based Clinical Evaluation of IndoKnee

IndoKnee is an unpowered knee assisting device designed and patented by Newndra Innovations. In this paper, we report a clinical study to characterize the reduction in load on the major muscles of the knee from the use of this device. Thirty healthy subjects without any history of knee problems underwent this trial. The protocol consists of three sets of events which are a) without IndoKnee (WOD), b) with IndoKnee at a minimum level of support (WDmin) and c) with IndoKnee at a maximum level of support (WDmax). Each set consists of five sitting and five standing activities. Surface electromyography was recorded from six major knee flexion/extension muscles, which are Bicep Femoris (BF), Semitendinosus (ST), Semimembranosus (SM), Rectus Femoris (RF), Vastus Medialis (VM) and Vastus Lateralis (VL). Paired t-tests were performed on our comparison between WOD vs WDmin and WOD vs WDmax to establish a significant difference in the EMG peak amplitudes during sitting and standing activities. The average reduction in all the six muscles for sitting activity is about 15% for both level of support and the standing activity, it is about 15% at a minimum level of support and 20% at a maximum level of support. In our investigation, IndoKnee did effectively reduce the required muscular effort for the knee flexion/extension. Thus, IndoKnee may prove to be an effective device in reducing knee pain, supporting osteoarthritis patients and faster rehabilitation from knee injuries.