Bulletin of prosthetics research最新文献

The projection of the ground reaction force vector is commonly used in clinical and rehabilitation settings to predict internal moments generated at the hip, knee, and ankle during walking. The results of using this convenient estimate are compared with those of a more complete measure (link segment method) in order to illustrate the differences quantitatively. Though both have intrinsic potential for errors, the author considers the link segment method much more accurate-and thus takes it as a standard against which the projection method may be judged. Thus, he defines differences between values obtained by the two methods as "errors" of the projection method. It is found that while the errors at the ankle are negligible, the errors at the knee and especially at the hip (and especially around the times of pushoff and heel contact) can give moments of incorrect magnitude or moments of the wrong polarity, especially at higher speeds.

The surface electromyographic patterns of eight muscles and the foot-contact patterns exhibited by 25 normal persons between the ages of 20 and 40, were measured and studied. These persons were walking indoors on a level surface without shoes at several different self-selected walking speeds. The electromyographic patterns demonstrated a considerable amount of interindividual variability at each speed. There were definite trends in the number of individuals exhibiting each pattern type as walking speed increased. The foot-contact patterns showed a consistent sequencing of foot events at all speeds with the double-limb support stages and stance phase comprising a smaller percentage of the gait cycle as speed increased.

The purpose of this paper is to present methodology specifically designed for objective study of problems associated with physiological stresses of manual wheelchair use. Excessive metabolic and cardiopulmonary stresses for everyday tasks could hinder rehabilitative efforts and be hazardous for certain patients. Sources of stress include: the relatively small musculature used for propulsion; architectural barriers; low levels of physical fitness; and inefficient wheelchair design. We propose that in order to reduce these stresses, quantitative data related to their mechanisms need to be derived. Therefore, we are conducting studies in the following areas; 1. Quantitation of metabolic, cardiovascular and pulmonary stresses of operating manual wheelchairs over various terrains; 2. Evaluation of physical fitness of wheelchair-dependent patients; 3. Improvement of physical fitness of wheelchair-dependent patients; and 4. Evaluation of the efficiency of various wheelchair designs. This research to date has provided further understanding of problems related to wheelchair confinement and demonstrated techniques to alleviate them. In this way, wheelchair locomotion could become less stressful and thus contribute to a higher level of rehabilitation.

An indoor driver-evaluator and trainer-aid vehicle, developed to quantify students' ability and progress in learning to drive, is described. In general, the instrumentation for each control was built to measure operating force and elapsed time. The system consists of functional ignition and gear shift control, instrumented steering wheel, hand controls for brake and acceleration, and elapsed response time meters for each control. The controls allow the major driving functions to be evaluated in their interactive mode and the subjects to be taught using variable mechanical resistance elements. Pilot tests were made on nine tetraplegic subjects, spaced over a 4-week period for a subject. Evaluation results by the third test agreed with road evaluation for all six of the subjects who thus far have attempted licensing examinations.