Application of a model to analyze shoulder biomechanics in adult patients with spinal cord injury when walking with crutches in two different gait patterns.

Background: Specific biomechanical models have been developed to study gait using crutches. Clinical application of these models is needed in adult spinal cord injury (SCI) population walking with different patterns of gait with crutches to prevent overuse shoulder injuries.

Objective: To apply a biomechanical model in a clinical environment to analyze shoulder in adult SCI patients walking with two different patterns of gait with crutches: two point reciprocal gait (RG) and swing-through gait (SG).

Upper limb rehabilitation after spinal cord injury: a treatment based on a data glove and an immersive virtual reality environment.

Unlabelled: Purpose state: The aim of this preliminary study was to test a data glove, CyberTouch™, combined with a virtual reality (VR) environment, for using in therapeutic training of reaching movements after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Method: Nine patients with thoracic SCI were selected to perform a pilot study by comparing two treatments: patients in the intervention group (IG) conducted a VR training based on the use of a data glove, CyberTouch™ for 2 weeks, while patients in the control group (CG) only underwent the traditional rehabilitation. Furthermore, two functional parameters were implemented in order to assess patient's performance of the sessions: normalized trajectory lengths and repeatability.

A novel motion tracking system for evaluation of functional rehabilitation of the upper limbs.

Upper limb function impairment is one of the most common sequelae of central nervous system injury, especially in stroke patients and when spinal cord injury produces tetraplegia. Conventional assessment methods cannot provide objective evaluation of patient performance and the tiveness of therapies. The most common assessment tools are based on rating scales, which are inefficient when measuring small changes and can yield subjective bias.

Comparative biomechanical analysis of gait in patients with central cord and Brown-Séquard syndrome.

Purpose: This is a pilot study with the aim to highlight the use of kinematic and kinetic analyses as an adjunct to the assessment of individual patients with central cord syndrome (CCS) and hemisection or Brown-Séquard syndrome (BSS) and to discuss their possible consequences for clinical management.

Methods: The sample studied consisted of 17 patients with CCS, 13 with BSS and 20 control subjects (control group (CG)). Data were obtained using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and two force plates.

Relation between kinematic analysis of wheelchair propulsion and wheelchair functional basketball classification.

The objective was to conduct a methodological pilot study to analyze wheelchair propulsion upper limb kinematics in standard competitive play considering the functional classification of each athlete. Ten basketball players with a functional classification ranging from 1 to 4 were included in the study. Four camcorders (Kinescan-IBV) and a treadmill for wheelchairs were used.

Gait kinematic analysis in patients with a mild form of central cord syndrome.

Background: Central cord syndrome (CCS) is considered the most common incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Independent ambulation was achieved in 87-97% in young patients with CCS but no gait analysis studies have been reported before in such pathology. The aim of this study was to analyze the gait characteristics of subjects with CCS and to compare the findings with a healthy age, sex and anthropomorphically matched control group (CG), walking both at a self-selected speed and at the same speed.

Kinematic analysis of the daily activity of drinking from a glass in a population with cervical spinal cord injury.

Background: Three-dimensional kinematic analysis equipment is a valuable instrument for studying the execution of movement during functional activities of the upper limbs. The aim of this study was to analyze the kinematic differences in the execution of a daily activity such as drinking from a glass between two groups of patients with tetraplegia and a control group.

Methods: A total of 24 people were separated into three groups for analysis: 8 subjects with metameric level C6 tetraplegia, 8 subjects with metameric level C7 tetraplegia and 8 control subjects (CG).

Upper limb joint kinetics during manual wheelchair propulsion in patients with different levels of spinal cord injury.

The purpose of this study was to compare the forces and moments of the whole upper limb, analyzing forces and moments at the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints simultaneously during manual wheelchair propulsion of persons with different levels of spinal cord injury (SCI) on a treadmill. Fifty-one people participated in this study and were grouped by their level of SCI: C6 tetraplegia (G1), C7 tetraplegia (G2), high paraplegia (G3), and low paraplegia (G4). An inverse dynamic model was defined to compute net joint forces and moments from segment kinematics, the forces acting on the pushrim, and subject anthropometrics.

Wheelchair basketball quantification.

Classification systems are one of the key elements in sports for people with disability, including wheelchair basketball. Further scientific studies to validate classification systems are needed. This article describes the most relevant research, with emphasis on biomechanics.