Biomechanical Foot Guidance Linkage

A gait replication apparatus can include a scalable mechanical mechanism configured to replicate different gaits . The scalable mechanical mechanism can include , for example , a four - bar linkage , a pantograph , a cam / Scotch - yoke mechanism , and so forth . In some embodiments , the mechanical mechanism includes a beam rotating about an axis passing proximate to its center , with a foot pedal slidably coupled with the beam , and a timing chain / belt or cable pulley - pair coupled with the foot pedal and looped about the beam . A method can include decomposing a foot path defined by Cartesian coordinates into polar coordinates , and providing a mechanical support for a foot , where a first mechanism controls an angular position of the mechanical support with respect to a reference frame , and a second mechanism controls a radial distance of the mechanical support from the reference frame

Cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and walking improvements in an adolescent with cerebral palsy (GMFCS II) and autism after motor-assisted elliptical training

Purpose: To quantify the impact of motor-assisted elliptical (ICARE) training on cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and walking function of an adolescent with walking limitations due to cerebral palsy. Materials and methods: A thirteen-year-old boy with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System II) and autism participated. Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2, primary outcome measure), oxygen cost of walking, Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), modified Timed Up and Go (mTUG), 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT), and gait characteristics (speed, cadence, step length, single support time) were assessed prior to and after completion of 24 sessions of moderate- to vigorous- intensity ICARE training. The goal was to engage the participant in 3 weekly sessions for 8 weeks with progressively challenging training parameters (speed, time overriding the motor’s assistance, step length). Results: From pre- to post-intervention, improvements were detected for peak VO2 (27.2 vs. 40.2 ml/ kg/min), oxygen cost (0.24 vs. 0.17 ml/kg/m at 1.52 m/s), PBS (47 vs. 55), mTUG (8.5 vs. 7.1 seconds), 2MWT (76.8 vs. 128.3 meters). Though not all displayed clinically significant changes, self-selected and fast walking speeds improved. Conclusions: Fitness, balance and walking improvements were achieved by an adolescent with cerebral palsy and autism after participating in a moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise

Rehabilitation and Exercise Machine

An improved rehabilitation and exercise machine is provided which allows a person with physical limitations, disabilities or chronic conditions to use the machine in order to rehabilitate their muscles, improve joint flexibility, and enhance cardiovascular fitness

Effect of Motor-Assisted Elliptical Training Speed and Body Weight Support on Center of Pressure Movement Variability

Background: A motor-assisted elliptical trainer is being used clinically to help individuals with physical disabilities regain and/or retain walking ability and cardiorespiratory fitness. Unknown is how the device’s training parameters can be used to optimize movement variability and regularity. This study examined the effect of motor-assisted elliptical training speed as well as body weight support (BWS) on center of pressure (CoP) movement variability and regularity during training. Methods: CoP was recorded using in-shoe pressure insoles as participants motor-assisted elliptical trained at three speeds (20, 40, and 60 cycles per minute) each performed at four BWS levels (0%, 20%, 40%, and 60%). Separate two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (3 × 4) evaluated impact of training speed and BWS on linear variability (standard deviation) and nonlinear regularity (sample entropy) of CoP excursion (anterior-posterior, medial-lateral) for 10 dominant limb strides. Findings: Training speed and BWS did not significantly affect the linear variability of CoP in the anterior-posterior or medial-lateral directions. However, sample entropy in both directions revealed the main effect of training speed (p \u3c 0.0001), and a main effect of BWS was observed in the medial-lateral direction (p = 0.004). Faster training speeds and greater levels of BWS resulted in more irregular CoP patterns. Interpretation: The finding that speed and BWS can be used to manipulate CoP movement variability when using a motor-assisted elliptical has significant clinical implications for promoting/restoring walking capacity. Further research is required to determine the impact of motor-assisted elliptical speed and BWS manipulations on functional recovery of walking in individuals who have experienced a neurologic injury or illness

Combining a non-immersive virtual reality gaming with motor-assisted elliptical exercise increases engagement and physiologic effort in children

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Virtual reality (VR) gaming is promising in sustaining children’s participation during intensive physical rehabilitation. This study investigated how integration of a custom active serious gaming with a robot-motorized elliptical impacted children’s perception of engagement (Intrinsic Motivation Inventory), physiologic effort (i.e., exercise speed, heart rate, lower extremity muscle activation), and joint kinematics while overriding the motor’s assistance. Compared to Non-VR condition, during the VR-enhanced condition participants’ perceived engagement was 23% greater (p = 0.01), self-selected speed was 10% faster (p = 0.02), heart rate was 7% higher (p = 0.08) and muscle demands increased. Sagittal plane kinematics demonstrated only a small change at the knee. This study demonstrated that VR plays an essential role in promoting greater engagement and physiologic effort in children performing a cyclic locomotor rehabilitation task, without causing any adverse events or substantial disruption in lower extremity joint kinematics. The outcomes of this study provide a foundation for understanding the role of future VR-enhanced interventions and research studies that weigh/balance the need to physiologically challenge a child during training with the value of promoting task-related training to help promote recovery of walking

Therapeutic Massage to Enhance Family Caregivers’ Well-being in a Rehabilitation Hospital

Background and purpose: A massage therapy program was implemented to address the psychological well-being of family caregivers to patients in a rehabilitation hospital. The impact of massage “dosage” on caregiver stress and psychological well-being was examined in this study. Participants’ perspectives on the program were also explored. Materials and methods: Thirty-eight family caregivers were randomized to receive either one massage per week or three massages per week for two weeks. Caregivers reported psychological symptoms and stress pre- and postprogram. Program acceptability was assessed via responses on an exit survey. Results: Overall, 79% of massages were received (89% among program completers). Post-program symptom scores were lower than baseline scores for both groups (F (1, 31) = 8.74 – 24.50, P \u3c 0.01). Exit surveys indicated high program acceptability and perceived benefits. Conclusion: Findings suggest that massage services would be welcomed, utilized, and beneficial for improving the psychological well-being of family caregivers in a rehabilitation hospital

Video capture and post-processing technique for approximating 3D projectile trajectory

In this paper we introduce a low-cost procedure and methodology for markerless projectile tracking in three-dimensional (3D) space. Understanding the 3D trajectory of an object in flight can often be essential in examining variables relating to launch and landing conditions. Many systems exist to track the 3D motion of projectiles but are often constrained by space or the type of object the system can recognize (Qualisys, Göteborg, Sweden; Vicon, Oxford, United Kingdom; Opti-Track, Corvallis, Oregon USA; Motion Analysis, Santa Rosa, California USA; Flight Scope, Orlando, Florida USA). These technologies can also be quite expensive, often costing hundreds of thousand dollars. The system presented in this paper utilizes two high-definition video cameras oriented perpendicular to each other to record the flight of an object. A postprocessing technique and subsequent geometrically based algorithm was created to determine 3D position of the object using the two videos. This procedure and methodology was validated using a gold standard motion tracking system resulting in a 4.5 ± 1.8% deviation from the gold standard

IMPROVED REHABILITATION AND EXERCISE MACHINE / MACHINE DE REEDUCATION ET D\u27EXERCICE AMELIOREE

An improved rehabilitation and exercise machine is provided which allows a person with physical limitations, disabilities or chronic conditions to use the machine in order to rehabilitate their muscles, improve joint flexibility, and enhance cardiovascular fitness. An embodiment of the device includes a framework, a first and second crank arm, a first and second handle bar, a first and second foot pedal, a motor and pulley assembly, a first and second coupler link, and a motor controller with speed knob

Rehabilitation and Exercise Machine

An improved rehabilitation and exercise machine is provided which allows a person with physical limitations, disabilities or chronic conditions to use the machine in order to rehabilitate their muscles, improve joint flexibility, and enhance cardiovascular fitness

Video capture and post-processing technique for approximating 3D projectile trajectory

In this paper we introduce a low-cost procedure and methodology for markerless projectile tracking in three-dimensional (3D) space. Understanding the 3D trajectory of an object in flight can often be essential in examining variables relating to launch and landing conditions. Many systems exist to track the 3D motion of projectiles but are often constrained by space or the type of object the system can recognize (Qualisys, Göteborg, Sweden; Vicon, Oxford, United Kingdom; Opti-Track, Corvallis, Oregon USA; Motion Analysis, Santa Rosa, California USA; Flight Scope, Orlando, Florida USA). These technologies can also be quite expensive, often costing hundreds of thousand dollars. The system presented in this paper utilizes two high-definition video cameras oriented perpendicular to each other to record the flight of an object. A postprocessing technique and subsequent geometrically based algorithm was created to determine 3D position of the object using the two videos. This procedure and methodology was validated using a gold standard motion tracking system resulting in a 4.5 ± 1.8% deviation from the gold standard