Accelerometer-based step initiation control for gait-assist neuroprostheses
This study evaluates three-dimensional accelerometers and customized algorithms to detect the intent to step from voluntary movements to trigger stimulation during walking in individuals with significantly different etiologies, mobility limitations, manual dexterities, and walking aids. Three individuals with poststroke hemiplegia or partial spinal cord injury exhibiting varying gait deficits were implanted with multichannel pulse generators to provide joint motions at the hip, knee, and ankle. An accelerometer integrated into the external control unit was used to detect heel strike or walker movement, and wireless acceler...
Source: J Rehabil Res Dev - May 6, 2017 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Kevin M Foglyano John R Schnellenberger Rudi Kobetic Lisa Lombardo Gilles Pinault Stephen Selkirk Nathaniel S Makowski Ronald J Triolo Source Type: research
The effect of caster wheel diameter and mass distribution on drag forces in manual wheelchairs
This study proposes a way to reduce energy losses in the form of rolling resistance friction during manual wheelchair propulsion by increasing the size of the front caster wheels and adjusting the weight distribution. Drag tests were conducted using a treadmill and a force transducer. Three different casters diameter (4 in., 5 in., and 6 in.) and six different mass distribution combinations (based on percentage of total weight on the caster wheels) were studied. A two-way analysis of variance test was performed to compare caster size and weight distribution contribution with drag force of an ultralight wheelchair. The 4 in...
Source: J Rehabil Res Dev - May 6, 2017 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Rene Zepeda Franco Chan Bonita Sawatzky Source Type: research
Efficacy of extremely low-frequency magnetic field in fibromyalgia pain: A pilot study
J Rehabil Res Dev. 2016;53(6):1023-1034. doi: 10.1682/JRRD.2015.04.0061.ABSTRACTThe purpose of this pilot study was to determine the efficacy of an extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) in decreasing chronic pain in fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Thirty-seven females were recruited and randomized into two groups: one group was first exposed to systemic ELF-MF therapy (100 microtesla, 1 to 80 Hz) and then to sham therapy, and the other group received the opposite sequence of intervention. Pain, FM-related symptoms, and the ability to perform daily tasks were measured using the Visual Analog Scale, Fibromyalgia Impact...
Source: J Rehabil Res Dev - May 6, 2017 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Teresa Paolucci Giulia Piccinini Marco Iosa Cristina Piermattei Simona de Angelis Maria Rosaria Grasso Federico Zangrando Vincenzo Maria Saraceni Source Type: research
Utility of a multimodal neurophysiologic assessment tool in distinguishing between individuals with and without a history of mild traumatic brain injury
J Rehabil Res Dev. 2016;53(6):959-972. doi: 10.1682/JRRD.2015.06.0120.ABSTRACTThis was a preliminary validation study of a multimodal concussion assessment battery incorporating eye-tracking, balance, and neurocognitive tests on a new hardware platform, the Computerized Brain Injury Assessment System. Using receiver-operating characteristics analyses, (1) we identified a subset of the most discriminating neurophysiological assessment tests involving smooth pursuit eye movement tracking errors, corrective saccade counts, a balance score ratio sensitive to vestibular balance performance, and two neurocognitive tests of respo...
Source: J Rehabil Res Dev - May 6, 2017 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Martin Baruch Jeffrey T Barth David Cifu Martin Leibman Source Type: research
Tongue-controlled robotic rehabilitation: A feasibility study in people with stroke
J Rehabil Res Dev. 2016;53(6):989-1006. doi: 10.1682/JRRD.2015.06.0122.ABSTRACTStroke survivors with severe upper limb (UL) impairment face years of therapy to recover function. Robot-assisted therapy (RT) is increasingly used in the field for goal-oriented rehabilitation as a means to improve function in ULs. To be used effectively for wrist and hand therapy, the current RT systems require the patient to have a minimal active range of movement in the UL, and those that do not have active voluntary movement cannot use these systems. We have overcome this limitation by harnessing tongue motion to allow patients to control a...
Source: J Rehabil Res Dev - May 6, 2017 Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Sarah Ostadabbas Stephen N Housley Nordine Sebkhi Kimberly Richards David Wu Zhenxuan Zhang Maria Garcia Rodriguez Lindsey Warthen Crystal Yarbrough Samir Belagaje Andrew J Butler Maysam Ghovanloo Source Type: research
