Affiliations: [a] Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain | [b] Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain | [c] Insituto de Automática Industrial | [d] Department of Cybernetics, University of Reading, Reading, UK | [e] Univerisité Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium | [f] GeronTech – The Israeli Center for Assistive Technology and Aging, Israel | [g] iRv. Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, The Netherlands
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Edificio 9c. Camino de Vera s/n, E46022 Valencia, Spain. Tel.: +34 96 387 91 60; Fax: +34 96 387 91 69; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: This paper presents the results of clinical trials performed using two upper-limb orthotic devices for tremor suppression, developed under the Fifth Framework Project DRIFTS (Contract QLK6-CT-2002-00536). The orthoses were tested on six subjects presenting various aetiological forms of tremor. Two different strategies of tremor reduction were investigated: viscous friction and notch filtering. The results obtained from the trials suggest that ambulatory and controllable mechanical suppression of tremor by orthotic means is a feasible intervention. The degree of tremor reduction is dependent upon the power associated with tremor. Expected reduction of tremor can be as high as 98% in severe cases. There are hints that for many persons suffering with tremor active mechanical suppression of tremor can produce a reinforcing feedback: when participants perceived and initial reduction of tremor due to the orthosis, they exhibited a further spontaneous reduction of the tremor. There are also indications in some participants that tremor can migrate from a controlled joint to other free joints.
