scholarly journals Promoting inclusiveness in exoskeleton robotics: Addressing challenges for pediatric access

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 327-339
Author(s):  
Eduard Fosch-Villaronga ◽  
Anto Čartolovni ◽  
Robin L. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Crucial Aspect ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Critical Phase ◽  
Exoskeleton Robotics ◽  
Design Challenges

AbstractPediatric access to exoskeletons lags far behind that of adults. In this article, we promote inclusiveness in exoskeleton robotics by identifying and addressing challenges and barriers to pediatric access to this potentially life-changing technology. We first present available exoskeleton solutions for upper and lower limbs and note the variability in the absence of these. Next, we query the possible reasons for this variability in access, explicitly focusing on children, who constitute a categorically vulnerable population, and also stand to benefit significantly from the use of this technology at this critical point in their physical and emotional growth. We propose the use of a life-based design approach as a way to address some of the design challenges and offer insights toward a resolution regarding market viability and implementation challenges. We conclude that the development of pediatric exoskeletons that allow for and ensure access to health-enhancing technology is a crucial aspect of the responsible provision of health care to all members of society. For children, the stakes are particularly high, given that this technology, when used at a critical phase of a child’s development, not only holds out the possibility of improving the quality of life but also can improve the long-term health prospects.

scholarly journals Relation of Quality of Life, Activities and Participation with Contracture Categories, and Contracture Sites in Elderly Residents With Joint Contractures in Long-Term Care Facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-chang Chen ◽  
Keh-chung Lin ◽  
Shu-Hui Yeh ◽  
Chih-Hung Wang ◽  
Ay-Woan Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Activity Limitations ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Joint Contractures ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Participation Restrictions

Abstract Background: Joint contractures and degenerative osteoarthritis are the most common joint diseases in the elderly, can lead to limited mobility in the elderly with diseases, can exacerbate symptoms, such as pain, stiffness and disability, and can interfere with social participation and quality of life, affecting mental health. However, relevant studies on this topic are very limited. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of demographic characteristics and joint contracture categories and sites with the quality of life, activity limitations, and participation restrictions of elderly residents in long-term care facilities.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study. Elderly individuals with joint contractures who were residents in long-term care facilities were recruited. The World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 were used to survey the participants. Correlations, multiple linear regressions, and multiple analyses of variance, with joint contractures as the response variable, were used in the statistical analysis.Results: The final statistical analysis included 232 participants. The explanatory power of contracture sites on activities and participation had a moderate strength of association (η2 = .113). Compared with elderly residents with joint contractures and osteoarthritis in isolated upper limbs, elderly residents with joint contractures and osteoarthritis in both the upper and lower limbs had significantly worse activity and participation limitations. There were no significant differences in activity and participation between elderly residents with joint contractures affecting isolated upper limbs and elderly residents with joint contractures affecting isolated lower limbs (F1,226 = 2.604 and F1,226 =.674, n.s.). Osteoarthritis had the greatest impact on activity limitations and participation restrictions of elderly residents with joint contractures affecting both upper and lower limbs (F1,226 = 6.251, p = .014).Conclusions: Elderly residents in long-term care facilities who are minorities and have non-mainstream religious beliefs, history of stroke and osteoarthritis are at high risk of developing activity limitations and participation restrictions. Moreover, compared with other contractile sites, regardless of osteoarthritis, elderly residents with joint contractures affecting both upper and lower limbs had the most substantial activity limitations and participation restrictions.Trial registration: This study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Registration number and date: ChiCTR2000039889

Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Simmons-Mackie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Language Intervention ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Environmental Support ◽  
Total Communication ◽  
Communication Partners

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.

Long term follow-up in quality of life after mitral valve surgery

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (S 01) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Kammerer ◽  
M Höhn ◽  
AH Kiessling ◽  
S Becker ◽  
FU Sack
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Mitral Valve ◽  
Mitral Valve Surgery ◽  
Valve Surgery ◽  
Long Term Follow Up

Long-term Outcome after Vegetative State due to Near-Drowning and Quality of Life of the Families

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Kluger ◽  
A Kirsch ◽  
M Hessenauer ◽  
M Granel ◽  
A Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Near Drowning

Long-Term Quality of Life Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannoma

2012 ◽  
Vol 73 (S 02) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Thom ◽  
M. Carlson ◽  
J. Jacob ◽  
C. Driscoll ◽  
B. Neff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Vestibular Schwannoma

Possibilities and prospects of conservative therapy for endometriosis, as a chronical progressing disease (review of literature)

GYNECOLOGY ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatyana Yu. Pestrikova ◽  
Elena A. Yurasova ◽  
Igor V. Yurasov
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Aim Analysis ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Terra Incognita ◽  
Positive Effect

Relevance. Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide and is the main cause of pain and infertility. Endometriosis is a disease, although it has been known for a long time, nevertheless, in many ways it represents terra incognita for modern medicine. Aim. Analysis of literature on the feasibility of long-term and the use of the drug dienogest 2 mg (Vizanne), which has a positive effect on the quality of life of patients with endometriosis. Materials and methods. To write this review, a search was made for domestic and foreign publications in Russian and international search engines (PubMed, eLibrary, etc.) over the past 13 years. The review included articles from peer-reviewed literature. Results. The review presents data on the difficulties of verifying the diagnosis of endometriosis due to a combination of this pathology with pain, infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding. The pathogenesis of the origin of endometriosis-associated pain is presented. The efficacy of the use of the drug dienogest (Vizanne), which has a powerful antiproliferative effect that reduces the main symptoms of endometriosis (pain, bleeding), is substantiated. The expediency of long-term and safe use of the drug dienogest (Vizanne), which has a positive effect on the quality of life of patients with endometriosis, has been proved. Conclusions. Numerous scientific publications confirm the feasibility of prolonged use of the drug dienogest (Vizanne), to achieve remission during endometriosis.

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