Measuring Abnormality in High Dimensional Spaces with Applications in Biomechanical Gait Analysis.

Accurately measuring a subject's abnormality using high dimensional data can empower better outcomes research. Utilizing applications in instrumented gait analysis, this article demonstrates how using data that is inherently non-independent to measure overall abnormality may bias results. A methodology is then introduced to address this bias and accurately measure abnormality in high dimensional spaces.

Improvements in gait speed and weight shift of persons with traumatic brain injury and vestibular dysfunction using a virtual reality computer-assisted rehabilitation environment.

Many people sustaining a traumatic brain injury experience vestibular pathology requiring physical therapy for treatment. This study measured improvements in gait speed and weight shift for subjects receiving vestibular physical therapy using a Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN). A 6-session CAREN, 6-session traditional vestibular therapy group was compared with a 12-session CAREN only (0 traditional sessions) therapy group.

A systematic literature review of the use and effectiveness of the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment for research and rehabilitation as it relates to the wounded warrior.

Background: Several U.S. military treatment and research facilities employ a Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) [Motek Medical BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands] for research and rehabilitation of complex injuries exhibited by Wounded Warriors.

Do patients with bone bridge amputations have improved gait compared with patients with traditional amputations?

Background: Two surgical techniques for performing a transtibial amputation include a traditional approach and a bone bridge approach. To date, there is no conclusive evidence of superiority of either technique in terms of temporal-spatial, kinetic, and mechanical work parameters.

Questions/purposes: We sought to compare instrumented three-dimensional gait parameters and mechanical work measurements of patients who had undergone a traditional or bone bridge amputation at the transtibial level.

Method for evoking a trip-like response using a treadmill-based perturbation during locomotion.

Because trip-related falls account for a significant proportion of falls by patients with amputations and older adults, the ability to repeatedly and reliably simulate a trip or evoke a trip-like response in a laboratory setting has potential utility as a tool to assess trip-related fall risk and as a training tool to reduce fall risk. This paper describes a treadmill-based method for delivering postural perturbations during locomotion to evoke a trip-like response and serve as a surrogate for an overground trip. Subjects walked at a normalized velocity in a Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN).