Abstract

Rehabilitation of walking is an essential element in the treatment of incomplete spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. During the early post injury period, patients find it challenging to practice upright walking. Simulating stepping movements in a supine posture may be easier and promote earlier rehabilitation. A robotic orthotic device for early intervention in spinal cord injury that does not require the patient to be in an upright posture has been modelled. The model comprises a two-bar mechanical system that is configured and powered to provide limb kinematics that approximate normal overground walking. The modelling work has been based on gait analysis performed on healthy subjects walking at 50 per cent, 75 per cent, and 100 per cent of normal cadence. Simulated angles of hip, knee, and ankle joints show a comparable range of motion (ROM) to the experimental walking data measured in healthy subjects. The model provides operating parameters for a prospective recumbent gait orthosis that could be used in early walking rehabilitation of incomplete SCI patients.

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Authors

Fang J, Gollee H, Galen S, Allan DB, Conway BA, Vuckovic A

Institution

Centre for Rehabilitation Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. j.fang.1@research.gla.ac.uk

Source

Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine 225:12 2011 Dec pg 1177-87

MeSH

Algorithms
Ankle Joint
Biomechanics
Computer Simulation
Computer-Aided Design
Gait Disorders, Neurologic
Hip Joint
Humans
Knee Joint
Models, Biological
Orthotic Devices
Range of Motion, Articular
Robotics
Spinal Cord Injuries
Walking

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22320057