Publications by authors named "J S Rietman"
Article Synopsis
- Stiff knee gait, common in stroke survivors, is often caused by overactivity of the rectus femoris muscle, leading to reduced knee flexion during walking.
- An experimental study with 10 stroke patients evaluated the effects of transferring the rectus femoris tendon to improve knee and hip movement before and after surgery.
- Results showed significant improvements in knee flexion and various walking tests post-surgery, confirming rectus femoris transfer as an effective treatment, with no negative impact on hip movement.
Article Synopsis
- * Nine stroke patients participated by performing ankle and knee movements, with an algorithm determining the level of assistance needed for each repetition.
- * Results showed that patients needed support for a significant percentage of ankle movements (44%) but much less for knee movements (5%), and the fatigue experienced was mild to moderate. The study suggests this method is feasible and encourages future clinical application research.
Background: Although early rehabilitation is important following a stroke, severely affected patients have limited options for intensive rehabilitation as they are often bedridden. To create a system for early rehabilitation of lower extremities in these patients, we combined the robotic manipulator ROBERT® with electromyography (EMG)-triggered functional electrical stimulation (FES) and developed a novel user-driven Assist-As-Needed (AAN) control. The method is based on a state machine able to detect user movement capability, assessed by the presence of an EMG-trigger and the movement velocity, and provide different levels of assistance as required by the patient (no support, FES only, and simultaneous FES and mechanical assistance).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Soft-robotic gloves with an assist-as-needed control have the ability to assist daily activities where needed, while stimulating active and highly functional movements within the user's possibilities. Employment of hand activities with glove support might act as training for unsupported hand function.
Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a grip-supporting soft-robotic glove as an assistive device at home during daily activities.
Article Synopsis
- The rising incidence of strokes has led to a greater need for rehabilitation services, with studies indicating that early and intensive rehabilitation is crucial for recovery.
- Robot-assisted technologies, especially when combined with electrical stimulation (ES), have shown promise in increasing therapy session frequency and enhancing muscle activation for lower extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients.
- A review of 26 peer-reviewed articles found that combining robot-assisted technology with ES generally improved patient outcomes, but variability in study designs highlights the need for more standardized research methods and patient engagement in future studies.