OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the use of an electromechanical device, comprising an exoskeleton, a static orthosis, and a glove, for functional rehabilitation of the elbow and hand in patients with hemiparesis, and to compare it with physical therapy rehabilitation.

DESIGN:

Pretest-posttest design.

SETTING:

Rehabilitation laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS:

Volunteer sample of persons (N=12) with persistent hemiparesis from a single, unilateral stroke within the past 3 to 36 months.

INTERVENTIONS:

The volunteers were randomly divided into 2 groups. One group was treated with a conventional program of physiotherapy, and another group participated in a training program in which an electromechanical orthosis was used. All volunteers received 24 sessions, held 3 times a week for 8 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and electromyogram (EMG) amplitude.

RESULTS:

No statistical difference was found in the initial and final values of the MAS. Both groups showed a significant increase for the total scores of the FMA. However, only the group treated with the orthosis showed an increase in FMA scores related to the wrist and hand joint. The EMG analysis showed increased EMG amplitudes for all muscles in the group treated with the orthosis, whereas the group treated with physiotherapy showed gains in electromyographic activity only in the extensor digitorum communis. Intergroup comparison showed that the initial FMA scores of the wrist/hand were higher in the group treated with physiotherapy. However, after training, the scores in the group that used the orthosis were equivalent to those of the physiotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results suggest that this device can be an auxiliary tool to help the conventional rehabilitation program of motor function of the affected upper extremity.

Категория: Ищем научные статьи | Нет комментариев »

Японские ученые создали двуногого робота, который отличается исключительной устойчивостью. В действие робота приводят движения человека. Машина может ходить, используя центр тяжести человека, который ею управляет.

(далее…)

Категория: Управление | Нет комментариев »

The objective of this work is to study the EMG signals based on hand motions for specified tasks, and different gripping conditions so as to identify patterns of EMG signals. This will allow therapists to identify weak muscles of patients with motor weakness, such as spinal cord injury (SCI) and post-stroke and concentrate on rehabilitation activities which can strengthen these specific muscles. At the same time, it is hoped that the analysis is able to provide useful data for objective and quantitative assessment towards control applications on the hand rehabilitation device, which is being developed. The analysis of the EMG signals for various hand muscles during functional motions and prehensile tasks has been carried out. The method to identify individual hand motions from EMG signals is described. The EMG signals associated to physical parameters are also illustrated in this paper. Finally, the preliminary works and future research are concluded.

Категория: Ищем научные статьи | 1 Комментарий »

We have been developing a wearable robot that directly and physically supports human movement. A ldquomuscle suitrdquo for the arm that will provide muscular support for the paralyzed or those otherwise unable to move unaided is one example. Whereas low back pain is one of the most serious issue for the manual worker and in this paper, we focus on developing the support system for anteversion posture support. In this paper, the concept and mechanical structure of the support system is shown. From the experimental result to keep anteversion posture with load indicates our system is very effective for keeping anteversion posture and it becomes clear that more than 60% reduction of muscular power is possible.

Категория: Ищем научные статьи | 1 Комментарий »

Dance notation systems, like music notes, enable documentation of symbolic representations of movement as signs on paper for individual analysis and interpretation. Today, dance notation systems operate within a digital environment in dance notation applications that facilitate the process of recording movement. The author argues that a key objective in the development of these applications should be to provide the user with an unambiguous method to record and represent movement. These applications offer varying functionality in their use of technology for the representation of movement and can be broadly defined in three different categories. Dance notation applications make up the first category — they help notate or record specific forms of movement using dance notation. Notation-based applications, the second category, include applications that use dance notation as a basis for their development. The last category, dance technology, consists of applications that use emerging technologies to record and visualize movement. While each application has a defined use, it’s important to consider how effective the technologies they employ are in successfully achieving their objectives. In this article, the author focuses on dance applications in these three categories. The author considers the limitations of existing technologies in their ability to effectively describe and record movement within a specific context.

Категория: Ищем научные статьи | 1 Комментарий »