Browse Topic: Rehabilitation and physical therapy

Items (21)

Robotic Therapy Improves Tremor Treatment

09/01/2024

Researchers have developed SPINDLE, a pioneering robotic rehabilitation system. Combining virtual reality (VR) with customized resistance training, SPINDLE offers personalized therapy to enhance strength and dexterity for activities of daily living (ADLs). Its adaptability and potential for home use represent a major advancement in tremor rehabilitation, with broader healthcare implications

Sensory Integration Balance Deficits in Complex mTBI: Can Early Initiation of Rehabilitation with Wearable Sensor Technology Improve Outcomes

21AERP04_0804/01/2021

Developing a novel feedback system using wearable sensors to provide physical therapists with realtime information about quality of head and trunk movement during exercise could improve patient rehabilitation practices. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common both in civilian and military populations and can be debilitating if symptoms do not resolve after injury. Balance problems are one of the most common complaints after sustaining an mTBI and often prevent people from returning to their previous quality of life. However, clear guidelines are currently lacking on when to initiate physical therapy rehabilitation and it is unclear if early physical therapy is beneficial. It is believed that the underlying problem of imbalance results from damage to parts of the brain responsible for interpreting sensory information for balance control. It is hypothesized that retraining the brain early, as opposed to months after

Motion Control and Coordination in the Development of a Conceptual Gait Rehabilitation System

17-226-7-188507/01/2012

A conceptual gait rehabilitation system was developed to generate the coordinated motion of the hip and knee joints according to normal physiological gait pattern with a pair of linkage mechanisms (one for each leg). This article presents the design of a mechanical timing mechanism for the motion control and coordination of the linkage mechanisms in the system. The desired motion of the input crank of the linkage mechanism is first obtained for the control purpose. To facilitate the implementation of different modes of operation of the gait rehabilitation system, a combination of cam and planetary gears is developed to achieve both timing and coordination through mechanical means. Motion simulation of the new timing mechanisms shows that the proper timing of the gait mechanisms, thus the hip and knee joints, is achieved with a constant speed input

Manna, Yazan A., Du, Fen, Ji, Zhiming

Rugged-Duty Actuator Enhances State-of-the-Art Pool/Spa Lift

TBMG-9342

04/01/2010

The benefits of aquatic physical therapy and rehabilitation for those who have difficulty with weightbearing activities due to arthritis or injury, or those who are overweight, have long been known. There is also a significant population of wheelchairbound and disabled persons who use pools and spas for recreation or therapeutic purposes. A dilemma for these individuals is how to get in and out of the pool or spa safely

Effect of Head and Neck Anthropometry on the Normal Range of Motion of the Cervical Spine of Prepubescent Children

2009-01-230206/09/2009

Application of cervical spine range of motion data and related anthropometric measures of the head and neck include physical therapy, product design, and computational modeling. This study utilized the Cervical Range of Motion device (CROM) to define the normal range of motion of the cervical spine for subjects five (5) through ten (10) years of age. And, the data was collected and analyzed with respect to anatomical measures such as head circumference, face height, neck length, and neck circumference. This study correlates these static anthropometric measures to the kinematic measurement of head flexion, extension, lateral extension, and rotation. An analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient and a hypothesis test to evaluate the significance of the correlation indicated a statistically significant linear relationship between neck length and flexion r(156) = +0.16, p<0.042, neck length and lateral extension r(156) = +0.21, p<0.009, neck length and rotation r(156) = +0.17, p

Brelin-Fornari, Janet, Majeske, Karl, Lynch-Caris, Terri

Guidelines for vehicle development based on principles of universal design

2008-36-025710/07/2008

In order to fulfill the users' needs, many innovations are included in vehicles. However, not all of these vehicles can be used by People with Special Needs (PSN), due to their technical characteristics and/or adaptation cost, even with the financial incentives offered by Brazilian Government. In this context, the Universal Design (UD) is inserted, where PSN and people without physical deficiencies can use the same vehicle, with little or no adaptation. In order to identify the needs of PSN, interviews were carried out with PSN and exhibiters of automotive products for PSN, in the VII Reatech 2008 (International Fair of Technologies of Rehabilitation, Inclusion and Accessibility), where can be highlighted: to lower the car floor; to improve the door access (increasing width, height and opening angle); to improve the internal space of vehicles; to reduce the cost of adaptation kits; and others. Inclusion programs of the main Brazilian automotive manufacturers were also identified

Montanha, Ivo Rodrigues, Matiello, Joseph Pedro, Roqueiro, Nestor, da Rosa, Edison, Nicolazzi, Lauro Cesar, Ogliari, André, de Souza Vieira, Rodrigo

Dynamics of an Articulated Towboat

2004-01-336411/16/2004

It is considerable the number of research around the subject of motorization of conventional manual wheechairs, however the found models don't take care of the real necessities of the wheelchair users. In the manufacture the necessity of an independent vehicle for the load transport exists. With the increasing necessity in Brazil to develop the knowledge in the area of independent vehicles and not being still available a towboat of tests adjusted to approach such problems. The articulated towboat is an intelligent independent vehicle to tow loads. The users of conventional manual wheelchairs will go to use this vehicle when to need motorization, that is in ascent cases, descending of ramps, or long distances. This vehicle possesss practical applications that they can assist systems of support to the rehabilitation of physical and motor deficiencies and also systems automatized of manufacture. The purpose of this paper is to develop some important contribution in the area of independent

Alvarenga, Flávia Bonilha, Dedini, Franco Giuseppe

Towards Understanding the Workspace of the Upper Extremities

2001-01-209506/26/2001

Significant attention in recent years has been given towards obtaining a better understanding of human joint ranges, measurement, and functionality, especially in conjunction with commands issued by the central nervous system. Studies of those commands often include computer algorithms to describe path trajectories. These are typically in “open-form” with specific descriptions of motions, but not “closed form” mathematical solutions of the full range of possibilities. This paper proposes a rigorous “closed form” kinematic formulation to model human limbs, understand their workspace (also called the reach envelope), and delineate barriers therein where a path becomes difficult or impossible owing to physical constraints. The novel ability to visualize barriers in the workspace emphasizes the power of these closed form equations. Moreover, this formulation takes into account joint limits in terms of ranges of motion and identifies barriers therein where a person is required to attain a

Abdel-Malek, Karim, Yang, Jingzhou, Brand, Richard, Tanbour, Emad

A Low Cost PC Based Driving Simulator for Prototyping and Hardware-In-The-Loop Applications

980222

02/23/1998

This paper describes a low cost, PC based driving simulation that includes a complete vehicle dynamics model (VDM), photo realistic visual display, torque feedback for steering feel and realistic sound generation. The VDM runs in real-time on Intel based PCs. The model, referred to as VDANL (Vehicle Dynamics Analysis, Non-Linear) has been developed and validated for a range of vehicles over the last decade and has been previously used for computer simulation analysis. The model's lateral and longitudinal dynamics have 17 degrees of freedom for a single unit vehicle and 33 degrees of freedom for an articulated vehicle. The model also includes a complete drive train including engine, transmission and front and rear drive differentials, and complete, power assisted braking and steering systems. A comprehensive tire model (STIREMOD) generates lateral and longitudinal forces and aligning torque based on normal load, camber angle and horizontal (lateral and longitudinal) slip. The tire model