Design of a Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot for Balance Control of Paraplegics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. C. Perera ◽  
A. P. A. Madupriya ◽  
B. D. S. Kaushalya ◽  
R. K. P. S. Ranaweera ◽  
R. A. R. C. Gopura
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Exoskeleton Robot

Do Single-Leg Balance Control and Lower Extremity Muscle Strength Correlate with Ankle Instability and Leg Injuries in Young Ballet Dancers?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
You-jou Hung ◽  
Jenna Boehm ◽  
Morgan Reynolds ◽  
Kallee Whitehead ◽  
Kaylyn Leland
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Ankle Instability ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Functional Ankle Instability ◽  
Lower Extremity Injuries ◽  
Ballet Dancers ◽  
Leg Injuries ◽  
Lower Extremity Muscle ◽  
Extremity Injuries

Ankle injuries are common among young ballet dancers. These injuries may be attributed to ankle instability, insufficient lower extremity strength, and poor balance control. The purpose of this study was to explore whether these dancers exhibit functional ankle instability and if their single-leg balance control and lower extremity muscle strength correlate with functional ankle instability and leg injuries. Twenty-one ballet dancers (aged 10 to 17 years) participated in the study. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) questionnaire was used to examine functional ankle stability. Isometric muscle strength of the major lower extremity muscles was measured with a digital hand-held dynamometer. Single-leg balance was evaluated with the Y-Balance Test (YBT) and three Athletic Single-leg Stability Test (ASLST) protocols. Lower extremity injuries (self-reported) within 6 months after testing were recorded for correlation analyses. Both dominant and non-dominant ankles of the subjects exhibited functional ankle instability (26.71 and 25.71, respectively). Raising the center of mass (passé and first arm position) during the ASLST did not significantly affect balance performance (p = 0.104). However, removing extrinsic visual feedback significantly decreased single-leg balance (p < 0.001). In general, there was low correlation (r ≤ 0.49) between muscle strength, CAIT, YBT, and ASLST scores with lower extremity injuries. It is concluded that for young ballet dancers lower extremity muscle strength and single-leg balance control may not be strong contributing factors to leg injuries. This study also suggests that functional ankle stability may not have a direct impact on single-leg balance, and ballet dancers rely heavily on extrinsic visual feedback for single-leg balance control. Teachers might consider minimizing extrinsic feedback to challenge ballet dancers when implementing training protocols for single-leg balance control.

Real-time Gait Event Detection for a Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot by Infrared Distance Sensors

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Chaoyang Li ◽  
Ye He ◽  
Tianchi Chen ◽  
Xiaoan Chen ◽  
Shengli Tian
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Event Detection ◽  
Exoskeleton Robot

EFFECT OF LOWER EXTREMITY EXOSKELETON ROBOT IMPROVING WALKING FUNCTION AND ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH COMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (08) ◽  
pp. 1940060
Author(s):  
XINGANG BAI ◽  
XIANG GOU ◽  
WENCHUN WANG ◽  
CHAO DONG ◽  
FANGXU QUE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Exoskeleton Robot ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Complete Spinal Cord Injury

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot improving walking function and activity in patients with complete spinal cord injury. A prospective, open and self-controlled trial was conducted which include eight patients with complete spinal cord injury accepted Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot training with Aider 1.0 and Aider 1.1 for 2 weeks. The 6[Formula: see text]min Walk Test (6MWT), 10[Formula: see text]m Walk Test (10 MWT), Hoffer walking ability rating, Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS), Spinal Cord Independence Motor (SCIM), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury Version II (WISCI II) were recorded before, 1 week and 2 weeks after training. During the training, the incidence of adverse events (AE), the incidence of serious adverse events (SAE), the incidence of device defects and other safety indicators were observed. Compared with the pre-training, indicators (6MWT, 10MWT, Hoffer walking ability rating, WISCI II) were significantly different after 1 week of training and after 2 weeks of training. Four adverse events occurred during the training period and the incidence of adverse events was 50%. And there was no SAE or device defects. Therefore, it is safe and effective to use the lower extremity exoskeleton robot to complete the walking ability of patients with complete spinal cord injury.

Analysis of Physiological Signals of Individuals with Eyes Closed Subjected to Unexpected Direction-Specific Stimuli Causing Instability

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2754-2763
Author(s):  
Sunhye Shin ◽  
Chul Un Hong ◽  
Kyong Kim ◽  
Tae Kyu Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Postural Balance ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Center Of Gravity ◽  
Training System ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physiological Signals ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Lower Extremity Muscle

Research regarding the cerebral cortex and muscle activity patterns of the body used for postural balance control when sudden instability stimuli occur is lacking. This study analyzed individuals' physiological signals when direction-specific instability stimuli were applied while their eyes were closed. Healthy adults in their 20s maintained their postural balance while looking at the center of gravity provided by a monitor with a three-dimensional dynamic postural balance training system. We performed electroencephalography (EEG) and measured trunk and lower extremity muscle activity of participants with their eyes closed when subjected to four direction-specific instability stimuli (anterior, posterior, left, and right). EEG results showed that gamma waves increased significantly with an unbalanced stimulus when the participant's eyes were open and closed. The increased gamma wave rate with eyes closed was low in the exercise planning area, where information is relatively integrated and exercise is planned without visual information. EMG results showed fewer gamma waves on EEG due to the low focus on postural control because participants could not observe the center of gravity, which is the basis for balance. The trunk and lower extremity muscles tended to be used more due to the larger body perturbation angle. These outcomes can be used as basic data regarding how the human brain and muscles maintain postural balance when an unexpected external instability stimulus occurs. Quantitative postural balance rehabilitation training protocols for the elderly and those with disabilities can be created based on these outcomes.

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