ABSTRACT
Resumen Los robots proporcionan nuevas formas de terapia para pacientes con desórdenes neurológicos. Las terapias de marcha asistidas con exoesqueletos pueden incrementar la duración y la intensidad de los entrenamientos para los pacientes y reducir el esfuerzo físico del terapeuta. Sin embargo, el uso de estos dispositivos para el entrenamiento de la marcha limita la interacción física entre el terapeuta y el paciente, en comparación con la terapia manual. Una apropiada realimentación de las funciones corporales y biomecánicas en la interacción con el sistema robótico facilita la evaluación del desempeño del paciente, motivándolo en el reaprendizaje de la marcha con resultados superiores. Este artículo presenta el diseño de una interfaz de usuario para un exoesqueleto de miembros inferiores para asistencia en la marcha y en terapias de rehabilitación. Se consideraron aspectos técnicos y clínicos para proporcionar ventajas del exoesqueleto durante las terapias, estableciendo una herramienta de apoyo para la configuración, monitoreo y registro de los parámetros involucrados. Se propuso un esquema de realimentación sensorial para el paciente acerca de la actividad muscular, la presión ejercida en diferentes puntos de los pies y algunas variables biomecánicas. Finalmente, se valida la herramienta con sujetos sanos por medio de un test de usabilidad propuesto.
Abstract The inclusion of robots in rehabilitation allow advantages for generate newer therapies in neurologic disorder patients. Assistive gait therapies using robots, like exoskeletons, allow increase the time and intensity training for patients while the strenuous labor of therapist is reduced. However, the physic interaction between therapist and patient in training with robots is limited, in relation to the traditional manual therapy. An appropriated feedback of biological and biomechanics functions in the robot interaction during training provides an easier performance evaluation of the patient for the therapist. Further, biofeedback gives a motivation to the patient and encourages him for gait relearning with higher effects than conventional. This paper presents a user interface design for a lower limb exoskeleton for human gait assistance in rehabilitation. Clinical and technical criteria for increasing the advantages of the exoskeleton in therapy were considered. A biofeedback scheme about muscle activity, plantar pressure and some biomechanics variables, for the patient is proposed. Finally, a validation for this tool with healthy subjects by a usability test was carried out.
Resumo A inclusão de robôs na reabilitação fornecem vantagens que promovem novas formas de terapia em pacientes com desordens neurológicas. Terapias de marcha assistidas por exoesqueletos permitem o aumento da duração e da intensidade dos exercícios com os pacientes, reduzindo o esforço físico dos terapeutas. Não entanto, o uso desses dispositivos para o treino da marcha limita a interação física entre o terapeuta e paciente, em comparação com a terapia manual. Uma apropriada realimentação das funções corporais e biomecânicas na interação com o sistema robótico facilita a avaliação do progresso do paciente, motiva e incentiva ao paciente na reaprendizagem da marcha gerando efeitos superiores aos convencionais. Neste artigo apresenta-se o desenho de uma interface de usuário para um exoesqueleto de membros inferiores para assistência na marcha e nas terapias de reabilitação. São considerados aspectos técnicos e clínicos para fornecer maiores vantagens do exoesqueleto durante as terapias, estabelecendo uma ferramenta de suporte para configuração, monitoramento e registro dos parâmetros envolvidos. Foi proposto um sistema de realimentação sensorial para o paciente sobre a atividade muscular, a pressão em diferentes pontos dos pés e algumas variáveis biomecânicas. Finalmente, é apresentada a ferramenta de validação para indivíduos saudáveis utilizando um teste de usabilidade proposto.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a technique that has been successfully employed in rehabilitation treatment to mitigate problems after spinal cord injury (SCI). One of the most relevant modules in a typical FES system is the power or output amplifier stage, which is responsible for the application of voltage or current pulses of proper intensity to the biological tissue, applied noninvasively via electrodes, placed on the skin surface or inside the muscular tissue, closer to the nervous fibers. The goals of this paper are to describe and discuss about the main power output designs usually employed in transcutaneous functional electrical stimulators as well as safety precautions taken to protect patients. Methods A systematic review investigated the circuits of papers published in IEEE Xplore and ScienceDirect databases from 2000 to 2016. The query terms were "((FES or Functional electric stimulator) and (circuit or design))" with 274 papers retrieved from IEEE Xplore and 29 from ScienceDirect. After the application of exclusion criteria the amount of papers decreased to 9 and 2 from IEEE Xplore and ScienceDirect, respectively. One paper was inserted in the results as a technological contribution to the field. Therefore, 12 papers presented power stage circuits suitable to stimulate great muscles. Discussion The retrieved results presented relevant circuits with different electronic strategies and circuit components. Some of them considered patient safety strategies or aimed to preserve muscle homeostasis such as biphasic current application, which prevents charge accumulation in stimulated tissues as well as circuits that dealt with electrical impedance variation to keep the electrode-tissue interface within an electrochemical safe regime. The investigation revealed a predominance of design strategies using operational amplifiers in power circuits, current outputs, and safety methods to reduce risks of electrical hazards and discomfort to the individual submitted to FES application.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Previous studies show that chronic hemiparetic patients after stroke, presents inabilities to perform movements in paretic hemibody. This inability is induced by positive reinforcement of unsuccessful attempts, a concept called learned non-use. Forced use therapy (FUT) and constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) were developed with the goal of reversing the learned non-use. These approaches have been proposed for the rehabilitation of the paretic upper limb (PUL). It is unknown what would be the possible effects of these approaches in the rehabilitation of gait and balance. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of Modified FUT (mFUT) and Modified CIMT (mCIMT) on the gait and balance during four weeks of treatment and 3 months follow-up. METHODS: This study included thirty-seven hemiparetic post-stroke subjects that were randomly allocated into two groups based on the treatment protocol. The non-paretic UL was immobilized for a period of 23 hours per day, five days a week. Participants were evaluated at Baseline, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks, and three months after randomization. For the evaluation we used: The Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FM). Gait was analyzed by the 10-meter walk test (T10) and Timed Up & Go test (TUG). RESULTS: Both groups revealed a better health status (SIS), better balance, better use of lower limb (BBS and FM) and greater speed in gait (T10 and TUG), during the weeks of treatment and months of follow-up, compared to the baseline. CONCLUSION: The results show mFUT and mCIMT are effective in the rehabilitation of balance and gait.
CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Pacientes hemiparéticos crônicos, após acidente vascular encefálico (AVE), apresentam incapacidade para executar movimentos no hemicorpo parético. Essa incapacidade é reforçada positivamente por tentativas fracassadas de movimento, conceito chamado desuso aprendido. A terapia de uso forçado (FUT) e a terapia de constrição com indução do movimento (CIMT) foram desenvolvidas objetivando a reversão do desuso aprendido do membro superior parético. Não se encontrou na literatura quais seriam os possíveis efeitos dessas técnicas na reabilitação da marcha e do equilíbrio. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o efeito da FUT e da CIMT modificadas (mFUT e mCIMT) na marcha e no equilíbrio durante quatro semanas de tratamento e três meses de seguimento. MÉTODOS: Este estudo incluiu 37 sujeitos hemiparéticos pós-AVE, divididos em dois grupos com base no protocolo de tratamento. A imobilização do membro superior não-parético foi feita por 23 horas ao dia, cinco dias por semana. Os sujeitos foram avaliados no início, durante quatro semanas de tratamento e três meses de acompanhamento. Para a avaliação, utilizou-se a Escala de Impacto do AVE (SIS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) e Fugl-Meyer Motor Assesment (FM). Para a marcha, utilizou-se o teste de caminhada de 10 metros (T10) e Timed Up & Go test (TUG). RESULTADOS: Ambos os grupos revelaram um melhor estado de saúde (SIS), melhor equilíbrio, com melhor utilização dos membros inferiores (BBS e FM) e maior velocidade na marcha (T10 e TUG) durante tratamento e seguimento em comparação com o início. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados mostram que a mFUT e a mCIMT são eficazes para a reabilitação do equilíbrio e da marcha.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Gait , Physical Therapy Modalities , Postural Balance , Stroke/rehabilitation , Immobilization , Single-Blind Method , Stroke/physiopathologyABSTRACT
@#Objective To observe the effect of gait training under the analyzing with computer-aided gait analysis system on the hemiplegia after stroke.Methods 100 stroke patients with walk disturbance were randomly divided into observe group (n=50) and control group (n=50).All patients' gaits in two groups were analyzed with computer-aided gait analysis system before and after training.Both groups were treated with common drugs.The cases in observe group were trained under the result of computer-aided gait analysis system.The control group was trained without the instruction of computer-aided gait analysis.ResultsAfter 3-month training,the gaits of observe group improved better than that of the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionThe gait training guided with the computer-aided gait analysis system is more effective on the recovery of hemiplegic gait.