scholarly journals Effect of Adapted Ergometer Setup and Rowing Speed on Lower Extremity Loading in People with and without Spinal Cord Injury

Author(s):  
Ying Fang ◽  
Karen L. Troy

AbstractIntroductionFunctional electrical stimulation assisted rowing (FES-rowing) on an adapted ergometer is used in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. A primary goal is to mechanically load the lower extremity to prevent disuse osteoporosis. Recent studies reported the small foot reaction force in FES-rowing was not sufficient to prevent bone loss.ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the effect of ergometer setup and rowing speed on lower extremity loading in able-bodied and SCI individuals.DesignTwenty able-bodied novice rowers and one experienced SCI rower rowed on an adapted ergometer with different speeds and setups. Motion capture system and force sensors were used to calculate forces and moments at the knee.Main Outcome MeasuresFoot reaction force and knee moment for all participants, and tibiofemoral force of the SCI rower.ResultsPeak foot reaction forces of able-bodied rowers ranged from 0.28 – 0.45 body weights (BW), which was less than half the force in normal rowing. A fast rowing speed, forward seat position, and large knee RoM were associated with higher foot force and knee moment during able-bodied rowing. The SCI subject had the greatest foot reaction force (0.40 BW) when rowing with small knee RoM at a rear seat position and the highest tibiofemoral force (2.23 BW) with large knee RoM at a rear seat position.ConclusionErgometer setup and speed can double the force generation at the foot during both able-bodied rowing and FES-rowing. Rowing forms (range of motion and speed) that resulted in the greatest foot reaction force were different for able-bodied rowers and SCI rowers, indicating a trade-off between motion and force generation in FES-rowing that warrants further investigation with more SCI rowers. Clinicians and physical therapist should be aware that ergometer setups can be easily adjusted to modify rowing forms and loading patterns of users with SCI.

Author(s):  
Akbar Hojjati Najafabadi ◽  
Saeid Amini ◽  
Farzam Farahmand

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.


Author(s):  
Akbar Hojjati Najafabadi ◽  
Saeid Amini ◽  
Farzam Farahmand

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.


2021 ◽  
pp. 101137
Author(s):  
Alexis Gutierrez ◽  
Rachel Blue ◽  
Patricia Zadnik-Sullivan ◽  
Blair Ashley ◽  
Samir Mehta ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Stoner ◽  
Manning Sabatier ◽  
Leslie VanhHiel ◽  
Danielle Groves ◽  
David Ripley ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Bulea ◽  
Ronald J. Triolo

A walker capable of providing vertical lift support can improve independence and increase mobility of individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Using a novel lifting mechanism, a walker has been designed to provide sit-to-stand assistance to individuals with partially paralyzed lower extremity muscles. The design was verified through experiments with one individual with SCI. The results show the walker is capable of reducing the force demands on the upper and lower extremity muscles during sit-to-stand transition compared to standard walkers. The walker does not require electrical power and no grip force or harness is necessary during sit-to-stand operation, enabling its use by individuals with limited hand function. The design concept can be extended to aid other populations with lower extremity weakness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (08) ◽  
pp. 1940060
Author(s):  
XINGANG BAI ◽  
XIANG GOU ◽  
WENCHUN WANG ◽  
CHAO DONG ◽  
FANGXU QUE ◽  
...  

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot improving walking function and activity in patients with complete spinal cord injury. A prospective, open and self-controlled trial was conducted which include eight patients with complete spinal cord injury accepted Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot training with Aider 1.0 and Aider 1.1 for 2 weeks. The 6[Formula: see text]min Walk Test (6MWT), 10[Formula: see text]m Walk Test (10 MWT), Hoffer walking ability rating, Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS), Spinal Cord Independence Motor (SCIM), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury Version II (WISCI II) were recorded before, 1 week and 2 weeks after training. During the training, the incidence of adverse events (AE), the incidence of serious adverse events (SAE), the incidence of device defects and other safety indicators were observed. Compared with the pre-training, indicators (6MWT, 10MWT, Hoffer walking ability rating, WISCI II) were significantly different after 1 week of training and after 2 weeks of training. Four adverse events occurred during the training period and the incidence of adverse events was 50%. And there was no SAE or device defects. Therefore, it is safe and effective to use the lower extremity exoskeleton robot to complete the walking ability of patients with complete spinal cord injury.


2017 ◽  
Vol Volume 10 ◽  
pp. 1391-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengye Zhu ◽  
Fuqing Zhou ◽  
Lingchao Li ◽  
Qin Yin ◽  
Mizhen Qiu ◽  
...  

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