Assessment of human movement performance in activities of daily living (ADL) is a key component i... more Assessment of human movement performance in activities of daily living (ADL) is a key component in clinical and rehabilitation settings. Motion capture technology is an effective method for objective assessment of human movement. Existing databases capture human movement and aDL performance primarily in the Western population, and there are no Asian databases to date. This is despite the fact that Asian anthropometrics influence movement kinematics and kinetics. This paper details the protocol in the first phase of the largest Asian normative human movement database. Data collection has commenced, and this paper reports 10 healthy participants. Twelve tasks were performed and data was collected using Qualisys motion capture system, force plates and instrumented table and chair. In phase two, human movement of individuals with stroke and knee osteoarthritis will be captured. This can have great potential for benchmarking with the normative human movement captured in phase one and predicting recovery and progression of movement for patients. With individualised progression, it will offer the development of personalised therapy protocols in rehabilitation.
Background and Objective: Previous clinical studies have shown that Neuroaid (MLC 601) may be ben... more Background and Objective: Previous clinical studies have shown that Neuroaid (MLC 601) may be beneficial in post-stroke rehabilitation. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of Neuroaid on motor recovery in ischemic stroke patients using rehabilitation endpoints in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization/Good Clinical Practice guidelines, in order to provide predictive information for further larger trials. Methods:This is a phase II double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of 40 subjects admitted with a recent (less than 1 month) ischemic stroke. All subjects were given either Neuroaid or placebo, 4 capsules 3 times a day for 4 weeks. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Functional Independence Measure scores were measured at initiation of the treatment, and at 4 and 8 weeks. Results: None of the outcomes was statistically significant between the two groups. However, FMA scores showed a positive trend for improvement with Neuroaid treatment over time. Subgroup analysis of subjects with posterior circulation infarction and severe stroke both showed a tendency for better recovery. Conclusion: Some positive trends were observed in the Neuroaid group. A larger multicenter trial focusing on severe stroke patients is needed to better evaluate the role of Neuroaid in aiding stroke recovery in rehabilitation.
Stroke affects the ability of the trunk muscles to maintain an upright posture and maintain the b... more Stroke affects the ability of the trunk muscles to maintain an upright posture and maintain the base of support during static and dynamic postural adjustments. The trunk is considered an important postural stabilizer which enables the dissociation of the upper extremity from the trunk for function. However, this common assumption in neurorehabilitation has not been validated in clinical trials. The association between trunk control and recovery of upper extremity function in stroke patients is not known currently. The cross-sectional studies (Phase 1A and Phase 1B studies) investigated the relationship between trunk control and upper extremity function in 45 subacute stroke and 25 chronic stroke participants, and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Trunk control and upper extremity function were assessed using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and Streamlined Wolf Motor Function Test (SWMFT) respectively. The participants performed SWMFT tasks, with and without an external trunk support in random order. Kinematic data were captured with the Vicon motion capture system in the Phase 1A study with chronic stroke participants and healthy controls. With trunk support, there was statistically significant improvement in trunk control (TIS) of subacute and chronic stroke participants; improvement in SWMFT performance time (SWMFT-Time) of the upper extremity of the stroke participants and the healthy controls; and improvement in SWMFT-Functional Ability Scale (SWMFT-FAS) in stroke participants. There was also statistically significant improvement in movement smoothness and elbow extension of the affected upper extremity of chronic stroke participants. The findings suggest that stabilization of the trunk enables an improved ability to use the upper extremity for functional activities. Significant strong associations were found between trunk control and upper extremity impairment (Fugl-Meyer score, FMA) and upper extremity function (SWMFT-Time and SWMFT-FAS). The longitudinal study (Phase 2 study) examined the recovery pattern of trunk control and upper extremity impairment and function in 45 subacute stroke participants in the first 6 months following stroke. The results further confirmed the findings of the cross-sectional studies (Phase 1A and Phase 1B studies) about the strong association between trunk control and upper extremity in the first 6 months post stroke. The rate of change of the recovery curves of trunk control and upper extremity impairment was found to be similar over time. As TIS scores improved over time, both the upper extremity impairment (FMA) and upper extremity function (SWMFT-Time and SWMFTFAS) improved almost in parallel with the TIS increase. The results imply that trunk control has an association with the recovery of the upper extremity. This PhD work has deepened our understanding about trunk control and upper extremity in people with stroke and provided valuable insights for rehabilitation professionals and researchers. The findings will assist therapists to design comprehensive programmes for rehabilitation of trunk control and upper extremity at different stages of stroke recovery; and aid in the prognostication of trunk and upper extremity recovery post stroke and therefore, will have an impact on clinical practice.
Additional file 2. Fall Compilation video. A compilation video of different subjects being induce... more Additional file 2. Fall Compilation video. A compilation video of different subjects being induced with terminal swing trip, mid swing trip and slip. All subjects were walking at their preferred speed and were instructed to stand straight immediately after their recovery.
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
Stroke can be a devastating condition that impairs the upper limb and reduces mobility. Wearable ... more Stroke can be a devastating condition that impairs the upper limb and reduces mobility. Wearable robots can aid impaired users by supporting performance of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). In the past decade, soft devices have become popular due to their inherent malleable and low-weight properties that makes them generally safer and more ergonomic. In this study, we present an improved version of our previously developed gravity-compensating upper limb exosuit and introduce a novel hand exoskeleton. The latter uses 3D-printed structures that are attached to the back of the fingers which prevent undesired hyperextension of joints. We explored the feasibility of using this integrated system in a sample of 10 chronic stroke patients who performed 10 ADLs. We observed a significant reduction of 30.3 ± 3.5% (mean ± standard error), 31.2 ± 3.2% and 14.0 ± 5.
Clinically, rehabilitation is the one of the most common treatment option for traumatic injuries.... more Clinically, rehabilitation is the one of the most common treatment option for traumatic injuries. Despite that, recovery remains suboptimal and recent breakthroughs in regenerative approaches may potentially improve clinical outcomes....
Background Aging degrades the balance and locomotion ability due to frailty and pathological cond... more Background Aging degrades the balance and locomotion ability due to frailty and pathological conditions. This demands balance rehabilitation and assistive technologies that help the affected population to regain mobility, independence, and improve their quality of life. While many overground gait rehabilitation and assistive robots exist in the market, none are designed to be used at home or in community settings. Methods A device named Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA) is developed to address this problem. MRBA is a hybrid of a gait assistive robot and a powered wheelchair. When the user is walking around performing activities of daily living, the robot follows the person and provides support at the pelvic area in case of loss of balance. It can also be transformed into a wheelchair if the user wants to sit down or commute. To achieve instability detection, sensory data from the robot are compared with a predefined threshold; a fall is identified if the value exceeds the thre...
Additional file 1. FIMP transparency analyses. Analysis of FIMP transparency which concludes that... more Additional file 1. FIMP transparency analyses. Analysis of FIMP transparency which concludes that the ankle strap has minimal impact on the individual's normal walking gait.
SPM is a statistical method of analysis of time-varying human movement gait signal, depending on ... more SPM is a statistical method of analysis of time-varying human movement gait signal, depending on the random field theory (RFT). MovementRx is our inhouse-developed decision-support system that depends on SPM1D Python implementation of the SPM (spm1d.org). We present the potential application of MovementRx in the prediction of increased joint forces with the possibility to predispose to osteoarthritis in a sample of post-surgical Transtibial Amputation (TTA) patients who were ambulant in the community. We captured the three-dimensional movement profile of 12 males with TTA and studied them using MovementRx, employing the SPM1D Python library to quantify the deviation(s) they have from our corresponding reference data, using “Hotelling 2” and “T test 2” statistics for the 3D movement vectors of the 3 main lower limb joints (hip, knee, and ankle) and their nine respective components (3 joints × 3 dimensions), respectively. MovementRx results visually demonstrated a clear distinction in...
2019 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2019
To date, the aim of spinal cord injury (SCI) researches in animals is to find the most effective ... more To date, the aim of spinal cord injury (SCI) researches in animals is to find the most effective treatment method which can lead to faster recovery. In order to evaluate if the method is effective, robust functional assessments are crucial. From the past to present, indicators to observe the recovery of the motor function in rodent SCI models are using human observance or the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score (BBB score), force detection, and imaging approaches. Nevertheless, these indicators do not meet some requirements for a severe full transection injury case. The goal of this project is to develop a novel force sensing system for measuring the ground reaction force of rats with severe SCI. In total, this system was tested with 12 spinalized rats. Following a full transection at the T9-T10 level of the spinal cord in rats with a 2mm gap, a nanofiber scaffold containing Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), as previously described, was implanted [1]. After 12 weeks of rehabilitative training, results showed that rats that underwent rehabilitation were able to gradually exert more force as compared to rats that did not undergo rehabilitation. At Week 6, the ground reaction force recorded in rats with rehabilitation was 0.8 ± 0.1 N in left limb and 0.75 ± 0.14 N in right limb. On the other hand, rats without rehabilitation exerted 0.52 ± 0.06 N in left limb and 0.47 ± 0.09 N in right limb. At Week 12, the force recorded in rehabilitated rats increased to 1.43 ± 0.13 N in left limb and 1.28 ± 0.17 N in right limb whereas in rats without rehabilitation, the force recorded was only 0.74 ± 0.12 N in left limb and 0.54 ± 0.11 N in right limb. These results not only showed that rehabilitation enhanced recovery of motor function, but also demonstrated the viability of measuring the ground reaction force applied by the rats as an assessment for a full spinal cord transection injury model.
Additional file 3. Post Hoc analysis. Post hoc analysis of terminal swing (TS), mid swing (MS) an... more Additional file 3. Post Hoc analysis. Post hoc analysis of terminal swing (TS), mid swing (MS) and slip (SL) versus normal walking (NW) and strap walking (SW). These post hoc analyses were conducted after performing the ANOVA as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17. Bonferroni correction was used to adjust the alpha value for the multiple comparisons.
Current neurorehabilitation models primarily rely on extended hospital stays and regular therapy ... more Current neurorehabilitation models primarily rely on extended hospital stays and regular therapy sessions requiring close physical interactions between rehabilitation professionals and patients. The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this model, as strict physical distancing rules and a shift in the allocation of hospital resources resulted in many neurological patients not receiving essential therapy. Accordingly, a recent survey revealed that the majority of European healthcare professionals involved in stroke care are concerned that this lack of care will have a noticeable negative impact on functional outcomes. COVID-19 highlights an urgent need to rethink conventional neurorehabilitation and develop alternative approaches to provide high-quality therapy while minimizing hospital stays and visits. Technology-based solutions, such as, robotics bear high potential to enable such a paradigm shift. While robot-assisted therapy is already established in clinics, the future chal...
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2020
Background The study of falls and fall prevention/intervention devices requires the recording of ... more Background The study of falls and fall prevention/intervention devices requires the recording of true falls incidence. However, true falls are rare, random, and difficult to collect in real world settings. A system capable of producing falls in an ecologically valid manner will be very helpful in collecting the data necessary to advance our understanding of the neuro and musculoskeletal mechanisms underpinning real-world falls events. Methods A fall inducing movable platform (FIMP) was designed to arrest or accelerate a subject’s ankle to induce a trip or slip. The ankle was arrested posteriorly with an electromagnetic brake and accelerated anteriorly with a motor. A power spring was connected in series between the ankle and the brake/motor to allow freedom of movement (system transparency) when a fall is not being induced. A gait phase detection algorithm was also created to enable precise activation of the fall inducing mechanisms. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM1D) and one-wa...
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to the impairment of impulse conduction and subsequently to an abn... more Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to the impairment of impulse conduction and subsequently to an abnormality of limbs function. To regain locomotor performance in SCI cases, we establish a robust combinatorial regenerative and rehabilitative approach to enhance axonal regeneration in the Sprague-Dawley rat with complete thoracic SCI. This system consists of a body weight support (BWS) system, five-bar linkage for driving the rat's ankles, and treadmill for training motor functions. This system is tested in a rat which is totally transected at T9-T10 of the spinal cord. A nanofiber scaffold is implanted in a gap between T9-T10 of the spinal cord in a spinalized rat for stimulating axonal regrowth. The position errors are quantified under 5 static load conditions (no load, 10g, 30g, 60g, and 100g) and dynamic load condition. Average root mean square (RMS) position errors in x-and y-axes of the manipulator are 2.1% and 5.3% respectively. According to a preliminary test, this system can provide the constant force to support the body weight and can drive the rat's hindlimbs without inducing anxiety or irritation. From our experiment, average root mean square (RMS) position errors in x-and y-axes of the manipulator are 10% and 11.7% respectively. The contribution of this research is the developmental rehabilitation robotic system for a rat with complete thoracic SCI in quadruped posture which can provide more natural walking posture. The scope of this paper is a developmental rehabilitation robotic system.
Assessment of human movement performance in activities of daily living (ADL) is a key component i... more Assessment of human movement performance in activities of daily living (ADL) is a key component in clinical and rehabilitation settings. Motion capture technology is an effective method for objective assessment of human movement. Existing databases capture human movement and aDL performance primarily in the Western population, and there are no Asian databases to date. This is despite the fact that Asian anthropometrics influence movement kinematics and kinetics. This paper details the protocol in the first phase of the largest Asian normative human movement database. Data collection has commenced, and this paper reports 10 healthy participants. Twelve tasks were performed and data was collected using Qualisys motion capture system, force plates and instrumented table and chair. In phase two, human movement of individuals with stroke and knee osteoarthritis will be captured. This can have great potential for benchmarking with the normative human movement captured in phase one and predicting recovery and progression of movement for patients. With individualised progression, it will offer the development of personalised therapy protocols in rehabilitation.
Background and Objective: Previous clinical studies have shown that Neuroaid (MLC 601) may be ben... more Background and Objective: Previous clinical studies have shown that Neuroaid (MLC 601) may be beneficial in post-stroke rehabilitation. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of Neuroaid on motor recovery in ischemic stroke patients using rehabilitation endpoints in accordance with the International Conference on Harmonization/Good Clinical Practice guidelines, in order to provide predictive information for further larger trials. Methods:This is a phase II double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of 40 subjects admitted with a recent (less than 1 month) ischemic stroke. All subjects were given either Neuroaid or placebo, 4 capsules 3 times a day for 4 weeks. Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Functional Independence Measure scores were measured at initiation of the treatment, and at 4 and 8 weeks. Results: None of the outcomes was statistically significant between the two groups. However, FMA scores showed a positive trend for improvement with Neuroaid treatment over time. Subgroup analysis of subjects with posterior circulation infarction and severe stroke both showed a tendency for better recovery. Conclusion: Some positive trends were observed in the Neuroaid group. A larger multicenter trial focusing on severe stroke patients is needed to better evaluate the role of Neuroaid in aiding stroke recovery in rehabilitation.
Stroke affects the ability of the trunk muscles to maintain an upright posture and maintain the b... more Stroke affects the ability of the trunk muscles to maintain an upright posture and maintain the base of support during static and dynamic postural adjustments. The trunk is considered an important postural stabilizer which enables the dissociation of the upper extremity from the trunk for function. However, this common assumption in neurorehabilitation has not been validated in clinical trials. The association between trunk control and recovery of upper extremity function in stroke patients is not known currently. The cross-sectional studies (Phase 1A and Phase 1B studies) investigated the relationship between trunk control and upper extremity function in 45 subacute stroke and 25 chronic stroke participants, and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Trunk control and upper extremity function were assessed using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and Streamlined Wolf Motor Function Test (SWMFT) respectively. The participants performed SWMFT tasks, with and without an external trunk support in random order. Kinematic data were captured with the Vicon motion capture system in the Phase 1A study with chronic stroke participants and healthy controls. With trunk support, there was statistically significant improvement in trunk control (TIS) of subacute and chronic stroke participants; improvement in SWMFT performance time (SWMFT-Time) of the upper extremity of the stroke participants and the healthy controls; and improvement in SWMFT-Functional Ability Scale (SWMFT-FAS) in stroke participants. There was also statistically significant improvement in movement smoothness and elbow extension of the affected upper extremity of chronic stroke participants. The findings suggest that stabilization of the trunk enables an improved ability to use the upper extremity for functional activities. Significant strong associations were found between trunk control and upper extremity impairment (Fugl-Meyer score, FMA) and upper extremity function (SWMFT-Time and SWMFT-FAS). The longitudinal study (Phase 2 study) examined the recovery pattern of trunk control and upper extremity impairment and function in 45 subacute stroke participants in the first 6 months following stroke. The results further confirmed the findings of the cross-sectional studies (Phase 1A and Phase 1B studies) about the strong association between trunk control and upper extremity in the first 6 months post stroke. The rate of change of the recovery curves of trunk control and upper extremity impairment was found to be similar over time. As TIS scores improved over time, both the upper extremity impairment (FMA) and upper extremity function (SWMFT-Time and SWMFTFAS) improved almost in parallel with the TIS increase. The results imply that trunk control has an association with the recovery of the upper extremity. This PhD work has deepened our understanding about trunk control and upper extremity in people with stroke and provided valuable insights for rehabilitation professionals and researchers. The findings will assist therapists to design comprehensive programmes for rehabilitation of trunk control and upper extremity at different stages of stroke recovery; and aid in the prognostication of trunk and upper extremity recovery post stroke and therefore, will have an impact on clinical practice.
Additional file 2. Fall Compilation video. A compilation video of different subjects being induce... more Additional file 2. Fall Compilation video. A compilation video of different subjects being induced with terminal swing trip, mid swing trip and slip. All subjects were walking at their preferred speed and were instructed to stand straight immediately after their recovery.
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
Stroke can be a devastating condition that impairs the upper limb and reduces mobility. Wearable ... more Stroke can be a devastating condition that impairs the upper limb and reduces mobility. Wearable robots can aid impaired users by supporting performance of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). In the past decade, soft devices have become popular due to their inherent malleable and low-weight properties that makes them generally safer and more ergonomic. In this study, we present an improved version of our previously developed gravity-compensating upper limb exosuit and introduce a novel hand exoskeleton. The latter uses 3D-printed structures that are attached to the back of the fingers which prevent undesired hyperextension of joints. We explored the feasibility of using this integrated system in a sample of 10 chronic stroke patients who performed 10 ADLs. We observed a significant reduction of 30.3 ± 3.5% (mean ± standard error), 31.2 ± 3.2% and 14.0 ± 5.
Clinically, rehabilitation is the one of the most common treatment option for traumatic injuries.... more Clinically, rehabilitation is the one of the most common treatment option for traumatic injuries. Despite that, recovery remains suboptimal and recent breakthroughs in regenerative approaches may potentially improve clinical outcomes....
Background Aging degrades the balance and locomotion ability due to frailty and pathological cond... more Background Aging degrades the balance and locomotion ability due to frailty and pathological conditions. This demands balance rehabilitation and assistive technologies that help the affected population to regain mobility, independence, and improve their quality of life. While many overground gait rehabilitation and assistive robots exist in the market, none are designed to be used at home or in community settings. Methods A device named Mobile Robotic Balance Assistant (MRBA) is developed to address this problem. MRBA is a hybrid of a gait assistive robot and a powered wheelchair. When the user is walking around performing activities of daily living, the robot follows the person and provides support at the pelvic area in case of loss of balance. It can also be transformed into a wheelchair if the user wants to sit down or commute. To achieve instability detection, sensory data from the robot are compared with a predefined threshold; a fall is identified if the value exceeds the thre...
Additional file 1. FIMP transparency analyses. Analysis of FIMP transparency which concludes that... more Additional file 1. FIMP transparency analyses. Analysis of FIMP transparency which concludes that the ankle strap has minimal impact on the individual's normal walking gait.
SPM is a statistical method of analysis of time-varying human movement gait signal, depending on ... more SPM is a statistical method of analysis of time-varying human movement gait signal, depending on the random field theory (RFT). MovementRx is our inhouse-developed decision-support system that depends on SPM1D Python implementation of the SPM (spm1d.org). We present the potential application of MovementRx in the prediction of increased joint forces with the possibility to predispose to osteoarthritis in a sample of post-surgical Transtibial Amputation (TTA) patients who were ambulant in the community. We captured the three-dimensional movement profile of 12 males with TTA and studied them using MovementRx, employing the SPM1D Python library to quantify the deviation(s) they have from our corresponding reference data, using “Hotelling 2” and “T test 2” statistics for the 3D movement vectors of the 3 main lower limb joints (hip, knee, and ankle) and their nine respective components (3 joints × 3 dimensions), respectively. MovementRx results visually demonstrated a clear distinction in...
2019 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2019
To date, the aim of spinal cord injury (SCI) researches in animals is to find the most effective ... more To date, the aim of spinal cord injury (SCI) researches in animals is to find the most effective treatment method which can lead to faster recovery. In order to evaluate if the method is effective, robust functional assessments are crucial. From the past to present, indicators to observe the recovery of the motor function in rodent SCI models are using human observance or the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score (BBB score), force detection, and imaging approaches. Nevertheless, these indicators do not meet some requirements for a severe full transection injury case. The goal of this project is to develop a novel force sensing system for measuring the ground reaction force of rats with severe SCI. In total, this system was tested with 12 spinalized rats. Following a full transection at the T9-T10 level of the spinal cord in rats with a 2mm gap, a nanofiber scaffold containing Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), as previously described, was implanted [1]. After 12 weeks of rehabilitative training, results showed that rats that underwent rehabilitation were able to gradually exert more force as compared to rats that did not undergo rehabilitation. At Week 6, the ground reaction force recorded in rats with rehabilitation was 0.8 ± 0.1 N in left limb and 0.75 ± 0.14 N in right limb. On the other hand, rats without rehabilitation exerted 0.52 ± 0.06 N in left limb and 0.47 ± 0.09 N in right limb. At Week 12, the force recorded in rehabilitated rats increased to 1.43 ± 0.13 N in left limb and 1.28 ± 0.17 N in right limb whereas in rats without rehabilitation, the force recorded was only 0.74 ± 0.12 N in left limb and 0.54 ± 0.11 N in right limb. These results not only showed that rehabilitation enhanced recovery of motor function, but also demonstrated the viability of measuring the ground reaction force applied by the rats as an assessment for a full spinal cord transection injury model.
Additional file 3. Post Hoc analysis. Post hoc analysis of terminal swing (TS), mid swing (MS) an... more Additional file 3. Post Hoc analysis. Post hoc analysis of terminal swing (TS), mid swing (MS) and slip (SL) versus normal walking (NW) and strap walking (SW). These post hoc analyses were conducted after performing the ANOVA as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17. Bonferroni correction was used to adjust the alpha value for the multiple comparisons.
Current neurorehabilitation models primarily rely on extended hospital stays and regular therapy ... more Current neurorehabilitation models primarily rely on extended hospital stays and regular therapy sessions requiring close physical interactions between rehabilitation professionals and patients. The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged this model, as strict physical distancing rules and a shift in the allocation of hospital resources resulted in many neurological patients not receiving essential therapy. Accordingly, a recent survey revealed that the majority of European healthcare professionals involved in stroke care are concerned that this lack of care will have a noticeable negative impact on functional outcomes. COVID-19 highlights an urgent need to rethink conventional neurorehabilitation and develop alternative approaches to provide high-quality therapy while minimizing hospital stays and visits. Technology-based solutions, such as, robotics bear high potential to enable such a paradigm shift. While robot-assisted therapy is already established in clinics, the future chal...
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2020
Background The study of falls and fall prevention/intervention devices requires the recording of ... more Background The study of falls and fall prevention/intervention devices requires the recording of true falls incidence. However, true falls are rare, random, and difficult to collect in real world settings. A system capable of producing falls in an ecologically valid manner will be very helpful in collecting the data necessary to advance our understanding of the neuro and musculoskeletal mechanisms underpinning real-world falls events. Methods A fall inducing movable platform (FIMP) was designed to arrest or accelerate a subject’s ankle to induce a trip or slip. The ankle was arrested posteriorly with an electromagnetic brake and accelerated anteriorly with a motor. A power spring was connected in series between the ankle and the brake/motor to allow freedom of movement (system transparency) when a fall is not being induced. A gait phase detection algorithm was also created to enable precise activation of the fall inducing mechanisms. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM1D) and one-wa...
Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to the impairment of impulse conduction and subsequently to an abn... more Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to the impairment of impulse conduction and subsequently to an abnormality of limbs function. To regain locomotor performance in SCI cases, we establish a robust combinatorial regenerative and rehabilitative approach to enhance axonal regeneration in the Sprague-Dawley rat with complete thoracic SCI. This system consists of a body weight support (BWS) system, five-bar linkage for driving the rat's ankles, and treadmill for training motor functions. This system is tested in a rat which is totally transected at T9-T10 of the spinal cord. A nanofiber scaffold is implanted in a gap between T9-T10 of the spinal cord in a spinalized rat for stimulating axonal regrowth. The position errors are quantified under 5 static load conditions (no load, 10g, 30g, 60g, and 100g) and dynamic load condition. Average root mean square (RMS) position errors in x-and y-axes of the manipulator are 2.1% and 5.3% respectively. According to a preliminary test, this system can provide the constant force to support the body weight and can drive the rat's hindlimbs without inducing anxiety or irritation. From our experiment, average root mean square (RMS) position errors in x-and y-axes of the manipulator are 10% and 11.7% respectively. The contribution of this research is the developmental rehabilitation robotic system for a rat with complete thoracic SCI in quadruped posture which can provide more natural walking posture. The scope of this paper is a developmental rehabilitation robotic system.
To date, the aim of spinal cord injury (SCI) researches in animals is to find the most effective ... more To date, the aim of spinal cord injury (SCI) researches in animals is to find the most effective treatment method which can lead to faster recovery. In order to evaluate if the method is effective, robust functional assessments are crucial. From the past to present, indicators to observe the recovery of the motor function in rodent SCI models are using human observance or the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score (BBB score), force detection, and imaging approaches. Nevertheless, these indicators do not meet some requirements for a severe full transection injury case. The goal of this project is to develop a novel force sensing system for measuring the ground reaction force of rats with severe SCI. In total, this system was tested with 12 spinalized rats. Following a full transection at the T9-T10 level of the spinal cord in rats with a 2mm gap, a nanofiber scaffold containing Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), as previously described, was implanted [1]. After 12 weeks of rehabilitative training, results showed that rats that underwent rehabilitation were able to gradually exert more force as compared to rats that did not undergo rehabilitation. At Week 6, the ground reaction force recorded in rats with rehabilitation was 0.8 ± 0.1 N in left limb and 0.75 ± 0.14 N in right limb. On the other hand, rats without rehabilitation exerted 0.52 ± 0.06 N in left limb and 0.47 ± 0.09 N in right limb. At Week 12, the force recorded in rehabilitated rats increased to 1.43 ± 0.13 N in left limb and 1.28 ± 0.17 N in right limb whereas in rats without rehabilitation, the force recorded was only 0.74 ± 0.12 N in left limb and 0.54 ± 0.11 N in right limb. These results not only showed that rehabilitation enhanced recovery of motor function, but also demonstrated the viability of measuring the ground reaction force applied by the rats as an assessment for a full spinal cord transection injury model.
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Papers by Seng Kwee Wee