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Exoskeletons as an Assistive Technology for Mobility and Manipulation
Published in Pedro Encarnação, Albert M. Cook, Robotic Assistive Technologies, 2017
Jaimie Borisoff, Mahsa Khalili, W. Ben Mortenson, H. F. Machiel Van der Loos
Another concept merging powered orthoses with wheels is the ABLE project, described as a “biped-type leg-wheeled robot system” (Mori et al. 2011). With the ABLE prototype, a user is supported through sit to stand and passive standing with the powered orthosis. The feet of the orthosis are attached to small wheeled platforms that enable rolling mobility somewhat akin to a power standing wheelchair. Although walking function is not supported, the device can enable stair climbing by locking the wheeled platforms and using the powered orthosis to perform stepping up or down stairs. Perhaps other concepts that merge orthoses and wheels for improved mobility outcomes will emerge in the future.
Tibiofemoral forces during FES rowing in individuals with spinal cord injury
Published in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2021
Vishnu D. Chandran, Rebecca L. Lambach, Robin S. Gibbons, Brian J. Andrews, Gary S. Beaupre, Saikat Pal
Mechanical stimulation of bone through exercise is the primary mechanism of non-pharmacologic therapy for bone loss after SCI, consistent with the able-bodied population (Beck and Snow 2003; Martelli et al. 2020). Bone loss after SCI is largely a function of disuse, due to the absence of forces from voluntary muscle contraction and the inability to perform weight-bearing activities. Different rehabilitation exercises have been used to induce muscle forces and reproduce weight-bearing activities for mechanical stimulation of bone after SCI, including weight-bearing standing (Ben et al. 2005; Alekna et al. 2008), body weight-supported treadmill training (Giangregorio et al. 2005), standing wheelchair (Goemaere et al. 1994), functional electrical stimulation (FES) of specific muscles groups (Shields and Dudley-Javoroski 2007), and FES knee extension (Clark et al. 2007). FES cycling is another exercise clinically available for promoting bone health after SCI (Bloomfield et al. 1996; Mohr et al. 1997; Johnston et al. 2016). The repetitive motion from FES cycling has been shown to be beneficial for a range of health measures (Dolbow et al. 2013; Fornusek et al. 2013; Gorgey and Lawrence 2016; Johnston et al. 2016); these benefits explain the widespread acceptance of FES cycling within the SCI community.