Potential effects of an increased aerobic capacity on walking effort and walking speed in lower limb amputees

Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation has been used in lower limb amputees; however, the extent to which VR is effective in reacquiring symmetrical gait in lower limb amputees is unclear. The purpose of this study was to confirm whether a VR intervention is effective in obtaining a simulated prosthetic gait. The participants were 24 healthy males who had never worn a simulated prosthesis. They were divided into three groups: VR, tablet, and control groups. The intervention consisted of 5 min of in situ stepping on parallel bars and watching a video of a simulated prosthetic leg walker on a head-mounted display or a tablet. Measurements included Gait Up parameters during a 10-m walk and immersion scores. After the intervention, there was a significant interaction between walking speed and leg swing speed in the VR group. The rate of improvement in walking speed and immersion scores was significantly higher in the VR group than in the other two groups, and there was a significant positive correlation between the rate of improvement and immersion scores. Compared to the tablet and control groups, the VR group showed the highest rate of immersion and improvement in walking speed.

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Physiological Cost Index and Comfort Walking Speed in Two Level Lower Limb Amputees Having No Vascular Disease

Acta Informatica Medica ◽

10.5455/aim.2015.23.12-17 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Teuta Vllasolli ◽

Nikola Orovcanec ◽

Beti Zafirova ◽

Blerim Krasniqi ◽

Ardiana Murtezani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Disease ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Cost Index ◽

Physiological Cost ◽

Lower Limb Amputees

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INFLUENCE OF FOOT INSOLE ON THE GAIT PERFORMANCE IN SUBJECTS WITH FLAT FOOT DISORDER

Journal of Mechanics in Medicine and Biology ◽

10.1142/s0219519419500507 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (06) ◽

pp. 1950050

Author(s):

M. T. KARIMI ◽

R. B. TAHMASEBI ◽

B. SATVATI ◽

F. FATOYE

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Ankle Joint ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Force Plate ◽

Flat Foot ◽

Gait Performance ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Foot Disorder

Flat foot is the most common foot disorder that influences the alignment of the lower limb structure. It is controversial whether the use of foot insole influences kinetic and kinematic of the leg or not. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of foot insole on the gait performance in subjects with flat foot disorder. A group of flat foot subject was recruited into this study (the number of subjects was 15). The motion of the leg joints was determined using the Qualysis motion analysis system. Moreover, the force applied on the lower limb was recorded by a Kistler force plate. The range of motion of the lower limb joints, the moments applied on the lower limb joints and force transmitted through the leg were the parameters used in this study. The difference between these parameters during walking with and without insole was evaluated using the paired [Formula: see text]-test. Significant value was set at [Formula: see text]. There was no significant difference between the range of motion of ankle joint while walking with and without insole. However, the medial directed force applied on the leg decreased significantly [Formula: see text]. The use of foot insole did not influence the moments transmitted through the hip and knee joints. The walking speed of the subjects improved while walking with foot insole. Use of foot insole influenced the magnitude of the force applied on the leg and the adductor moment of ankle joint due to its influence on foot alignment. As the walking speed of the improved subjects follows the use of insole, it can be concluded that it may have a positive effects on the performance of flat foot subjects.

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Modulation of spatial and temporal modules in lower limb muscle activations during walking with simulated reduced gravity

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94201-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shota Hagio ◽

Makoto Nakazato ◽

Motoki Kouzaki

Keyword(s):

Matrix Factorization ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Nonnegative Matrix Factorization ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Nonnegative Matrix ◽

Tensor Decomposition ◽

Reduced Gravity ◽

Dependent Variables ◽

Specific Speed ◽

Muscle Activations

AbstractGravity plays a crucial role in shaping patterned locomotor output to maintain dynamic stability during locomotion. The present study aimed to clarify the gravity-dependent regulation of modules that organize multiple muscle activities during walking in humans. Participants walked on a treadmill at seven speeds (1–6 km h−1 and a subject- and gravity-specific speed determined by the Froude number (Fr) corresponding to 0.25) while their body weight was partially supported by a lift to simulate walking with five levels of gravity conditions from 0.07 to 1 g. Modules, i.e., muscle-weighting vectors (spatial modules) and phase-dependent activation coefficients (temporal modules), were extracted from 12 lower-limb electromyographic (EMG) activities in each gravity (Fr ~ 0.25) using nonnegative matrix factorization. Additionally, a tensor decomposition model was fit to the EMG data to quantify variables depending on the gravity conditions and walking speed with prescribed spatial and temporal modules. The results demonstrated that muscle activity could be explained by four modules from 1 to 0.16 g and three modules at 0.07 g, and the modules were shared for both spatial and temporal components among the gravity conditions. The task-dependent variables of the modules acting on the supporting phase linearly decreased with decreasing gravity, whereas that of the module contributing to activation prior to foot contact showed nonlinear U-shaped modulation. Moreover, the profiles of the gravity-dependent modulation changed as a function of walking speed. In conclusion, reduced gravity walking was achieved by regulating the contribution of prescribed spatial and temporal coordination in muscle activities.

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Adaptive Foot in Lower-Limb Prostheses

Journal of Robotics ◽

10.1155/2017/9618375 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Thilina H. Weerakkody ◽

Thilina Dulantha Lalitharatne ◽

R. A. R. C. Gopura

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Uneven Surface ◽

Design Concepts ◽

Human Foot ◽

Future Developments ◽

Adaptive Capabilities ◽

Adaptive Nature ◽

Lower Limb Amputees ◽

Artificial Prosthesis ◽

Lower Limb Prostheses

The human foot consists of complex sets of joints. The adaptive nature of the human foot enables it to be stable on any uneven surface. It is important to have such adaptive capabilities in the artificial prosthesis to achieve most of the essential movements for lower-limb amputees. However, many existing lower-limb prostheses lack the adaptive nature. This paper reviews lower-limb adaptive foot prostheses. In order to understand the design concepts of adaptive foot prostheses, the biomechanics of human foot have been explained. Additionally, the requirements and design challenges are investigated and presented. In this review, adaptive foot prostheses are classified according to actuation method. Furthermore, merits and demerits of present-day adaptive foot prostheses are presented based on the hardware construction. The hardware configurations of recent adaptive foot prostheses are analyzed and compared. At the end, potential future developments are highlighted.

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