Stability During Stairmill Ascent With Upward and Downward Applied Forces on the Pelvis.

This study investigates how external vertical forces on the pelvis change the stability of stairmill climbing and other gait parameters such as kinematics and muscle activity. We use a Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (TPAD) to apply forces on the pelvis during continuous ascent on a stairmill. Ten young healthy subjects participated in three one-minute stair ascent with no force, a 10% body weight (BW) downward force, and a 10% BW upward force applied on the pelvis.

A novel neck brace to characterize neck mobility impairments following neck dissection in head and neck cancer patients.

Objective: This article introduces a dynamic neck brace to measure the full range of motion (RoM) of the head-neck. This easy-to-wear brace was used, along with surface electromyography (EMG), to study changes in movement characteristics after neck dissection (ND) in a clinical setting.

Methods: The brace was inspired by the head-neck anatomy and was designed based on the head-neck movement of 10 healthy individuals.

Passive knee exoskeletons in functional tasks: Biomechanical effects of a coil-spring on squats.

Passive wearable exoskeletons are desirable as they can provide assistance during user movements while still maintaining a simple and low-profile design. These can be useful in industrial tasks where an ergonomic device could aid in load lifting without inconveniencing them and reducing fatigue and stress in the lower limbs. The is a coil-spring design that aids in knee extension.

Biomechanical differences during ascent on regular stairs and on a stairmill.

Stair climbing is an intense physical activity and requires large range of motion at the joints, adequate muscle strength, and balance control. A powered stairmill, integrated with a gait rehabilitation device, can potentially be used for training those who have difficulty climbing stairs. In order to assess the effectiveness of such an approach, it is necessary to understand the similarities and differences in walking on regular stairs and on a stairmill.

A robotic neck brace to characterize head-neck motion and muscle electromyography in subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: This paper presents the first study where a dynamic neck brace was used to characterize the head motion of ALS patients while concurrently recording the surface electromyography (EMG) of the neck muscles.

Methods: Eleven ALS patients and 10 age-matched healthy controls consented and participated in an experiment. Each participant was asked to perform three single-plane motions of the head-neck that included flexion-extension in the sagittal plane, lateral bending in the coronal plane, and axial rotation in the transverse plane.

Using the Motion of the Head-Neck as a Joystick for Orientation Control.

Head-neck interfaces have the potential to command and control orientation tasks when the hand-wrist is not available for use as a joystick. We pose the question in this paper-How well can the head-neck be used to perform orientation tasks when compared to the hand-wrist? Anatomically, the motion of the head-neck is similar to that of the hand-wrist. We hypothesize that the head-neck motion can be as effective as the motion of the hand-wrist to control orientation tasks.