Browse the latest research summaries in the field of assistive technology for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 551-560 of 583 results
The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2014 • January 1, 2014
This study aimed to determine the discriminative ability of three functional tests (10MWT, FTSST, and TUGT) in independent ambulatory subjects with SCI who used different ambulatory assistive devices ...
KEY FINDING: Persons not using AADs performed significantly better than those using AADs in all tests.
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng., 2015 • July 1, 2015
The study evaluated two facial sEMG-based systems (discrete and continuous) for controlling an on-screen keyboard. Participants trained on one system and then used the other in a crossover session. Th...
KEY FINDING: Users of the continuous system achieved higher information transfer rates (ITRs) than those using the discrete system, both initially and after training.
Nature, 2012 • May 17, 2012
This study demonstrates the ability of two people with long-standing tetraplegia to use a neural interface system (NIS) to control a robotic arm for three-dimensional reach and grasp movements. Partic...
KEY FINDING: People with long-standing tetraplegia can use NIS-based control to perform 3D reach and grasp movements with a robotic arm.
Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil, 2015 • January 1, 2015
This study evaluated the influence of gait training with an IRGO on the kinematics and temporal spatial parameters in MMC children. The findings showed that orthotic gait training improved hip joint r...
KEY FINDING: Orthotic gait training with IRGO significantly increased walking speed in children with MMC.
Adv. Healthcare Mater., 2021 • June 4, 2021
This review explores the potential of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) as artificial muscles controlled by the nervous system, highlighting their mechanical and electrical performance advantages....
KEY FINDING: Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) with nanostructured carbon electrodes offer fast response times, long lifetimes, good reliability, high energy efficiencies, and large strains, making them suitable for artificial muscle applications.
J Extracell Vesicles, 2021 • April 22, 2021
This study presents the first-in-human application of allogeneic UC-MSC-EVs during cochlear implantation, aiming to reduce inflammation and improve outcomes. A patient with Menière’s disease received ...
KEY FINDING: The intracochlear application of allogeneic UC-MSC-EVs during cochlear implantation appeared safe, with no acute systemic or local toxicity observed within the 5-day observation period and during the 24-month follow-up.
Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 2021 • May 28, 2021
This study investigates kinematic changes in blue-spotted salamanders (Ambystoma laterale) during hindlimb regeneration, comparing them with the amphibious fish Polypterus senegalus to understand loco...
KEY FINDING: Salamanders in the early stages of regeneration exhibit a higher undulation frequency, particularly around the pelvic girdle.
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2012 • January 17, 2012
The study designed and evaluated a low-cost instrumented glove, called the NeuroAssess Glove, for assessing hand function in clinical and rehabilitation settings. The glove uses resistive bend sensors...
KEY FINDING: A stable sensor type was identified, achieving a high sensor resolution of 0.5 degrees.
PLoS ONE, 2016 • December 21, 2016
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of the Wheelchair Skills Training Program (WSTP) for community-dwelling veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants were randomly ...
KEY FINDING: Participants in the WSTP group improved their total and Advanced-level WST scores by 7.1% and 30.1% relative to baseline (p < 0.001) and retained their scores at one year follow-up.
Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine, 2019 • January 1, 2019
This qualitative study reports on an individual with a complete C5 SCI who used a service dog and experienced improvements in all the components of the ICF. The study demonstrated that the participant...
KEY FINDING: The participant experienced “increased vitality and motivation,” and “emergence of self-affirmation” after using a service dog.