[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and acceleration of postural sway in the Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance (CTSIB) by using a triaxial accelerometer for quantitative assessment. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-seven stroke patients participated in this study. Balance ability was evaluated with the BBS, and postural sway was evaluated with a triaxial accelerometer. The data were then analyzed for frequency and correlation by using statistical software (SPSS 18.0). [Result] Acceleration in left-right and forward-backward directions in all conditions of the CTSIB assessment showed a significant correlation with BBS assessment. Acceleration in Signal Vector Magnitude values in condition 3 of the CTSIB assessment showed a significant correlation with BBS assessment. [Conclusion] This study revealed that postural sway represented balance ability as acceleration in the quantitative measurement of kinematic analysis. This finding suggests that the triaxial accelerometer could be used as a measurement tool in clinical conditions.
[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of ankle strengthening exercises combined with motor imagery training and those of ankle strengthening exercises alone in stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: experimental group (15 patients) and control group (15 patients). The experimental group underwent motor imagery training for 15 minutes and ankle joint strengthening exercises for 15 minutes, while the control group underwent only ankle joint strengthening exercises for 30 minutes. Each session and training program was implemented four times a week for 4 weeks. The timed up and go (TUG) test score, affected-side weight bearing ratio, and affected-side front/rear weight bearing ratio were assessed. [Results] Both groups demonstrated improvement on the TUG test, and in the affected-side weight bearing ratios, affected-side front/rear weight bearing ratios, and balance errors. The experimental group demonstrated greater improvement than the control group in all variables. [Conclusion] Motor imagery training is an effective treatment method for improving static balance ability in stroke patients.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in trunk and shoulder angles, and reaction forces under the two hands elicited by different hand base of support positions during sitting pivot transfer. [Subjects and Methods] Eighteen unimpaired subjects performed independent sitting pivot transfer. Subjects performed sitting pivot transfer between an initial seat to a target seat by only using their hands positioned at the same height as and lower than the seat position. Trunk and shoulder kinematics, and reaction forces on the trailing and leading hands were calculated. Mean peak joint angles and forces were compared between the hand positions using the pared t-test for the lift phase of the transfer. [Results] There were significant increases in the trunk angles of forward and lateral flexion, even though rotation decreased while transferring in the lower hand position. Increased shoulder flexion, anterior/posterior forces and reduced lateral forces were also shown. [Conclusion] Placing the hands of the supporting arms lower than the seat position during sitting pivot transfer was identified as having biomechanical advantages. Therefore, the lower hand position can be recommended as an effective and safe method for sitting pivot transfer by patients with spinal cord injury and can be utilized as a reference data for considering the appropriate height of aids for a wheelchair.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a growing awareness about the importance of building a health and safety net based on digital healthcare systems, such as ICT-based local community online services and patient monitoring technology. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the formative usability of a three-way digital healthcare system, which had been developed to build a health and safety net for people with disabilities and deriving the directions for system improvement in order for them to be used as basic data for further system enhancement. A formative usability evaluation of a three-way digital healthcare system was performed with the participation of 43 healthcare professionals, using the 10-item System Usability Scale (SUS) and five items for satisfaction evaluation. Each item was rated on a five-point Likert scale, with the result converted to a scale of 100. Analysis was performed using the average score and the acceptable system usability level. The overall mean SUS score was 62.4, which corresponds to Grade D according to the SUS grading scale, and the below-average items were complexity (Q2), convenience (Q8), simplicity (Q3), professionalism (technician support, prior learning) (Q4, Q10), and learnability (Q7). The overall mean user satisfaction was 71.2 points, where overall satisfaction, system architecture and understandability, and continuous use intention were marked with below-average scores. The SUS D grade is interpreted as “fair” and the water solubility is “almost acceptable”. For the usability enhancement of the newly developed a three-way digital healthcare system, the overall direction for system architecture improvement was analyzed centering on complexity (Q2), convenience (Q8), professionalism (technician support, prior learning) (Q4, Q10), learnability (Q7), and simplicity (Q3). Efforts need to be directed at enhancing system satisfaction and continuance rate by deriving detailed system improvement strategies and achieving system enhancement to reflect the opinions of not only experts but also users.
The aim of this study was to investigate of the foot plantar pressure and usability after gait training using the ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton robot in an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) patient. Design: A case study Methods: Six participants with an asymmetry in motor and sensory function completed the gait training using ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton robot for 15 sessions, five per weeks, 3weeks. They were divided into two groups (low and high strength group) and group differences were evaluated about session at stating of gait, gait distance at final session and foot plantar pressures and useability after training. Results: Low strength group was faster than high strength group on adaptation of robot gait. And high strength group increased faster than low strength group on the gait distance during training. In standing and gait, weaker leg was higher than stronger leg on mean foot plantar pressure in low strength group. And stronger leg was higher than weaker leg on foot plantar pressure in high strength group. The length of the anterior-posterior trajectory of the center of pressure during gait was similar in low strength group, but different in high strength group. useability was positive about ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton gait after training. Conclusions: ExoAtlet wearable exoskeleton robot gait training was positive about improving gait in all participants regardless of differences in severity of symptoms and gait abnormalities.
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