Using a saddle-assistive device equipped with mechanical orthosis for walking of the person with incomplete spinal cord injury

2021 ◽  
pp. 095441192110201
Author(s):  
Akbar Hojjati Najafabadi ◽  
Saeid Amini ◽  
Farzam Farahmand
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Vertical Force ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Combined Application ◽  
Cord Injury

The majority of the people with incomplete spinal cord injury lose their walking ability, due to the weakness of their muscle motors in providing torque. As a result, developing assistive devices to improve their conditionis of great importance. In this study, a combined application of the saddle-assistive device (S-AD) and mechanical medial linkage or thosis was evaluated to improve the walking ability in patients with spinal cord injury in the gait laboratory. This mobile assistive device is called the saddle-assistive device equipped with medial linkage or thosis (S-ADEM). In this device, a mechanical orthosis was used in a wheeled walker as previously done in the literature. Initially, for evaluation of the proposed assistive device, the experimental results related to the forces and torques exerted on the feet and upper limbs of a person with the incomplete Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) during walking usingthe standard walker were compared with an those obtained from using the S-ADEM on an able-bodied subject. It was found that using this combination of assistive devices decreases the vertical force and torque on the foot at the time of walking by 53% and 48%, respectively compared to a standard walker. Moreover, the hand-reaction force on the upper limb was negligible instanding and walking positions usingthe introduced device. The findings of this study revealed that the walking ability of the patients with incomplete SCI was improved using the proposed device, which is due to the bodyweight support and the motion technology used in it.

Improving sit-to-stand transition by the saddle-assistive device in the spinal cord injury: A case study

2021 ◽  
pp. 095441192110033
Author(s):  
Akbar Hojjati Najafabadi ◽  
Saeid Amini ◽  
Farzam Farahmand
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Limb Weakness ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Lower Limb Weakness ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cord Injury

Physical problems caused by fractures, aging, stroke, and accidents can reduce foot power; these, in the long term, can dwindle the muscles of the waist, thighs, and legs. These conditions provide the basis for the invalidism of the harmed people. In this study, a saddle-walker was designed and evaluated to help people suffering from spinal cord injury and patients with lower limb weakness. This S-AD works based on body weight support against the previously report designs. This saddle-walker consisted of a non-powered four-wheel walker helping to walk and a powered mechanism for the sit-to-stand (STS) transfer. A set of experiments were done on the STS in the use of the standard walker and the saddle-assistive device(S-AD). A comparison of the results showed that this device could reduce the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) of the legs up to 70%. Using this device could help a wide range of patients with lower limb weakness and SCI patients in changing from sitting to standing.

scholarly journals Ambulatory assistive devices and walking performance in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Saensook ◽  
S Phonthee ◽  
K Srisim ◽  
L Mato ◽  
P Wattanapan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Walking Performance

scholarly journals Robotic-Assisted, Body-Weight–Supported Treadmill Training in Individuals Following Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
T George Hornby ◽  
David H Zemon ◽  
Donielle Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Physical Therapists ◽  
Treadmill Training ◽  
Neurological Injury ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Robotic Assisted ◽  
Cord Injury

AbstractBackground and Purpose. Performance of therapist-assisted, body-weight–supported treadmill training (BWSTT) to enhance walking ability of people with neurological injury is an area of intense research. Its application in the clinical setting, however, is limited by the personnel and labor requirements placed on physical therapists. Recent development of motorized (“robotic”) rehabilitative devices that provide assistance during stepping may improve delivery of BWSTT. Case Description. This case report describes the use of a robotic device to enhance motor recovery and ambulation in 3 people following motor incomplete spinal cord injury. Interventions. Changes in motor impairment, functional limitations, and locomotor disability were monitored weekly during robotic-assisted BWSTT and following transition to therapist-assisted BWSTT with the assistance of one therapist. Outcomes. Following this training, 2 patients recovered independent over-ground walking and another improved his gait speed and endurance. Discussion. The use of robotic devices may assist physical therapists by providing task-specific practice of stepping in people following neurological injury.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Shoulder Pain Disability among Assistive Device Users with Paraplegia

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-37
Author(s):  
Bushnu Dutta Acharya ◽  
M. Rawal ◽  
P.K. Rokaya ◽  
D. Karki ◽  
D. Limbu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Shoulder Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pain Disability ◽  
Cord Injury

Introduction: To identify the prevalence of shoulder pain disability in paraplegic patients using assistive devices following Spinal Cord Injury. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done among 53 SCI paraplegia patients having shoulder pain after use of assistive devices. Pre-test was done among 5 subjects. The association among different variables with shoulder was tested by using chi-square test. SPSS version 16 was applied to find the result. Results: The study showed that almost 98.11% of the respondents had shoulder pain with the assistive device users. Among them all of the participants were using wheelchair as the assistive devices and 86.3% had mild disability, 11.8% moderate disability and 2% sever disability. Among them, 72% of the patients had stayed in the hospital for less than six months. Shoulder pain was dependent on age, gender, duration of assistive devices used, type of assistive devices used and level of injury. Conclusions: Shoulder pain is common and has a high prevalence rate in both traumatic as well as non-traumatic spinal cord injury. Wheelchair user have more shoulder pain then other assistive devices users. Shoulder pain has a negative effect on activities of daily living and is a potential cause of activity limitations.

scholarly journals Locomotor Training Progression and Outcomes After Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (12) ◽  
pp. 1356-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L Behrman ◽  
Anna R Lawless-Dixon ◽  
Sandra B Davis ◽  
Mark G Bowden ◽  
Preeti Nair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Spinal Injury ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Locomotor Training ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Weight Support ◽  
Walking Activity ◽  
Cord Injury

Abstract Background and Purpose. The use of locomotor training with a body-weight–support systemand treadmill (BWST) and manual assistance has increased in rehabilitation. The purpose of this case report isto describe the process for retraining walking in a person with an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) using the BWST and transferring skills from the BWST to overground assessment and community ambulation. Case Description. Following discharge from rehabilitation, a man with an incomplete SCI at C5–6 and an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale classification of D participated in 45sessions of locomotor training. Outcomes. Walking speed and independence improved from 0.19 m/s as a home ambulator using a rolling walker and a right ankle-foot orthosis to 1.01 m/s as a full-time ambulator using a cane only for communitymobility. Walking activity (X̄±SD) per 24 hours increased from 1,054±543 steps to 3,924±1,629 steps. Discussion. In a person with an incomplete SCI, walking ability improved after locomotor trainingthat used a decision-making algorithm and progression across training environments.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness and Safety of Exoskeletons as Assistive and Rehabilitation Devices in the Treatment of Neurologic Gait Disorders in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 822-841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Fisahn ◽  
Mirko Aach ◽  
Oliver Jansen ◽  
Marc Moisi ◽  
Angeli Mayadev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Walk Test ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Lower Extremity Function ◽  
Extremity Function ◽  
Cord Injury

Study Design Systematic review. Clinical Questions (1) When used as an assistive device, do wearable exoskeletons improve lower extremity function or gait compared with knee-ankle-foot orthoses (KAFOs) in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? (2) When used as a rehabilitation device, do wearable exoskeletons improve lower extremity function or gait compared with other rehabilitation strategies in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? (3) When used as an assistive or rehabilitation device, are wearable exoskeletons safe compared with KAFO for assistance or other rehabilitation strategies for rehabilitation in patients with complete or incomplete spinal cord injury? Methods PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases and reference lists of key articles were searched from database inception to May 2, 2016, to identify studies evaluating the effectiveness of wearable exoskeletons used as assistive or rehabilitative devices in patients with incomplete or complete spinal cord injury. Results No comparison studies were found evaluating exoskeletons as an assistive device. Nine comparison studies (11 publications) evaluated the use of exoskeletons as a rehabilitative device. The 10-meter walk test velocity and Spinal Cord Independence Measure scores showed no difference in change from baseline among patients undergoing exoskeleton training compared with various comparator therapies. The remaining primary outcome measures of 6-minute walk test distance and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury I and II and Functional Independence Measure–Locomotor scores showed mixed results, with some studies indicating no difference in change from baseline between exoskeleton training and comparator therapies, some indicating benefit of exoskeleton over comparator therapies, and some indicating benefit of comparator therapies over exoskeleton. Conclusion There is no data to compare locomotion assistance with exoskeleton versus conventional KAFOs. There is no consistent benefit from rehabilitation using an exoskeleton versus a variety of conventional methods in patients with chronic spinal cord injury. Trials comparing later-generation exoskeletons are needed.

Gutter Crutches: An Unconventional Walking Aid for Incomplete Tetraplegics – A Case Report

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 76-79
Author(s):  
T Senthilvelkumar ◽  
Raji Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Safety And Stability ◽  
Walking Aid

Abstract The goal of the therapists and patient while selecting an ambulatory aid is to maximise walking ability, manoeuverability and independence, while maintaining safety and stability. Unlike elbow crutches or walker, gutter crutches are not a familiar and well established walking aid in the rehabilitation of persons with incomplete spinal cord injury. In this case report we highlight enhanced ambulation achieved by a 53-year-old man with chronic, incomplete tetraplegia with the use of gutter crutches.

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