Kinematic analysis of preparation for transferring from wheelchair to bed.

This study aimed to clarify the kinematics, particularly of the shoulder and hip joints, during preparation for manual wheelchair-to-bed transfer (i.e. when flipping up the arm and foot supports).

Development and preliminary evaluation of a tele-rehabilitation exercise system using computer-generated animation.

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and acceptability of a newly developed tele-rehabilitation exercise system using computer-generated animation.

Methods: The participants comprised a convenience sample of 38 diverse individuals in Experiment 1 (15 healthy young people, 16 healthy older people, 5 patients with stroke, and 2 patients with respiratory disease) and 18 healthy older individuals in Experiment 2. Experiment 1 assessed safety in terms of cardiopulmonary vascular aspects and risk of fall, and Experiment 2 assessed treatment acceptability via a subjective evaluation.

The effect of differences in powered wheelchair joystick shape on subjective and objective operability.

Various-shaped joysticks steer electric-powered wheelchairs (EPWs); however, an operability evaluation has not been fully conducted. This study evaluated the subjective and objective operability of various-shaped joysticks in 22 younger and 22 older adults. Participants operated an EPW on an experimental course using nine different-shaped joysticks, before ranking each joystick by their operability (1 = best, 9 = worst) as a primary outcome.

Shock-absorbing effect of flooring-adopted mechanical metamaterial technology and its influence on the gait and balance of older adults.

Objective: To elucidate the performance of a shock-absorbing floor material with a mechanical metamaterial (MM-flooring) structure and its effect on the gait and balance of older adults.

Methods: The drop-weight impact was applied to evaluate the shock-absorbing performance. The falling weight was adjusted equivalent to the energy exerted on the femur of an older woman when she falls, which was evaluated on the MM-flooring and six other flooring materials.

Overcoming language barriers to provide telerehabilitation for COVID-19 patients: a two-case report.

Purpose: This report presents two cases of successful telerehabilitation delivery for patients quarantined due to COVID-19. One of the patients did not speak the therapists' language, whereas the other presented complete deafness.

Materials And Methods: We assembled a telerehabilitation system using commercial applications, including a remote-control application that minimizes the need for patient's input.