Browse the latest research summaries in the field of assistive technology for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 431-440 of 581 results
Prosthet Orthot Int, 2009 • September 1, 2009
The SMARTWheel has helped to provide the foundation for more thorough analyses of the biomechanics of wheelchair propulsion, to wheelchair ergonomics, and to understanding the mechanisms of repetitive...
KEY FINDING: The SMARTWheel transformed the nascent field of wheelchair propulsion biomechanics by allowing researchers to identify and analyze characteristics such as push-angle, peak forces and moments, and center-of-pressure.
Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback, 2010 • December 1, 2009
The paper presents a system using a sensor mat and tactile feedback to prevent Decubitus ulcers, addressing the challenge of posture neglect in individuals with spinal cord injuries. A preliminary stu...
KEY FINDING: The study found that tactile feedback is a viable option for posture feedback, though participants were slightly slower to react compared to auditory feedback.
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, 2009 • January 1, 2009
The study focuses on the development and application of robotic lower limb exoskeletons, particularly those controlled by proportional myoelectric control. This control method uses the wearer's muscle...
KEY FINDING: Healthy humans can quickly adjust to walking with robotic ankle exoskeletons, ultimately using less energy.
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc, 2009 • January 1, 2009
The Tongue Drive System (TDS) is a wireless assistive technology that enables individuals with severe disabilities to control devices using tongue movements. An external TDS (eTDS) prototype was devel...
KEY FINDING: All subjects could successfully perform computer access tasks, such as controlling a mouse cursor and playing computer games.
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2010 • September 10, 2010
This study investigates the immediate effects of patient-cooperative versus non-cooperative robot-aided gait training on individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). The results indicate tha...
KEY FINDING: Patients showed more spatial and temporal kinematic variability in the patient-cooperative path control mode with individually adjusted support.
PM R, 2010 • October 1, 2010
This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of shoulder pain and its association with mobility devices in individuals with chronic SCI. The study found a high prevalence of shoulder pain (39.8%...
KEY FINDING: Shoulder pain was reported by 39.8% of participants, making it the third most common site of pain after the legs and back.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2010 • November 1, 2010
This study investigated the impact of various wheelchair tilt-in-space and recline angles on skin perfusion over the ischial tuberosity in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The results sugges...
KEY FINDING: When combined with 100° recline, a 35° tilt-in-space significantly increased skin perfusion compared to sitting upright.
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2011 • May 24, 2011
This study investigated the use of data logging to differentiate the powered wheelchair driving skills of expert users compared to novice users when completing standardized tasks. The analysis of joys...
KEY FINDING: Expert users required fewer joystick movements for complex tasks like turning 180° and maneuvering sideways.
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng., 2011 • December 1, 2011
This paper describes a powered lower limb orthosis developed to assist gait in spinal cord injured individuals. Experimental results from walking trials with a T10 complete paraplegic indicate that th...
KEY FINDING: Data collected during walking indicates a high degree of step-to-step repeatability of hip and knee trajectories (as enforced by the orthosis) and an average walking speed of 0.8 km/hr.
Yonsei Med J, 2011 • November 1, 2011
This study introduces an artificial external glottic device (AEGD) designed to aid lung insufflation in patients with neuromuscular diseases who have difficulty air stacking due to glottic dysfunction...
KEY FINDING: For 30 patients whose MICs were initially zero, the use of the AEGD allowed measurable lung insufflation capacity (LICA) for all patients.