Therapeutic strategies capable of inducing and enhancing
prosthesis embodiment are a key point for better adaptation to and acceptance of prosthetic limbs. In this study, we developed a training protocol using an EMG-based human-machine interface (HMI) that was applied in the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase of people with
amputation. This is a case series with the objective of evaluating the induction and enhancement of the embodiment of a virtual
prosthesis. Six men and a woman with unilateral transfemoral
traumatic amputation without previous use of
prostheses participated in the study. Participants performed a training protocol with the EMG-based HMI, composed of six sessions held twice a week, each lasting 30 mins. This system consisted of myoelectric control of the movements of a virtual
prosthesis immersed in a 3D virtual environment. Additionally, vibrotactile stimuli were provided on the participant's back corresponding to the movements performed. Embodiment was investigated from the following set of measurements: skin conductance response (affective measurement), crossmodal congruency effect (spatial perception measurement), ability to control the virtual
prosthesis (motor measurement), and reports before and after the training. The increase in the skin conductance response in conditions where the virtual
prosthesis was threatened, recalibration of the peripersonal space perception identified by the crossmodal congruency effect, ability to control the virtual
prosthesis, and participant reports consistently showed the induction and enhancement of virtual
prosthesis embodiment. Therefore, this protocol using EMG-based HMI was shown to be a viable option to achieve and enhance the embodiment of a virtual prosthetic limb.