Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Sensors (Basel) 2022 Jun 8;22(12). Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA.

Assistive robotic manipulators (ARMs) provide a potential solution to mitigating the difficulties and lost independence associated with manipulation deficits in individuals with upper-limb impairments. However, achieving efficient control of an ARM can be a challenge due to the multiple degrees of freedom (DoFs) of an ARM that need to be controlled. This study describes the development of a vision-guided shared-control (VGS) system and how it is applied to a multi-step drinking task. Read More

Spinal Cord Ser Cases 2022 04 29;8(1):47. Epub 2022 Apr 29.

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, United States.

Study Design: Case Series.

Objectives: To describe the donor activation focused rehabilitation approach (DAFRA) in the setting of the hand closing nerve transfers in cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) so that therapists may apply it to treatment of individuals undergoing this procedure.

Setting: United States of America-Academic Level 1 Trauma Center. Read More

J Neuroeng Rehabil 2022 02 11;19(1):17. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Swiss Children's Rehab - Research Department, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Mühlebergstrasse 104, CH-8910, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland.

Background: Children and adolescents with upper limb impairments can experience limited bimanual performance reducing daily-life independence. We have developed a fully wearable pediatric hand exoskeleton (PEXO) to train or compensate for impaired hand function. In this study, we investigated its appropriateness, practicability, and acceptability. Read More

ACS Nano 2021 12 16;15(12):18633-18646. Epub 2021 Dec 16.

Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.

An expanding elderly population and people with disabilities pose considerable challenges to the current healthcare system. As a practical technology that integrates systems and services, assistive physical therapy devices are essential to maintain or to improve an individual's functioning and independence, thus promoting their well-being. Given technological advancements, core components of self-powered sensors and optimized machine-learning algorithms will play innovative roles in providing assistive services for unmet global needs. Read More

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2021 11;2021:7544-7550

Shared human-robot control for assistive machines can improve the independence of individuals with motor impairments. Monitoring elevated levels of workload can enable the assistive autonomy to adjust the control sharing in an assist-as-needed way, to achieve a balance between user fatigue, stress, and independent control. In this work, we aim to investigate how heart rate variability features can be utilized to monitor elevated levels of mental workload while operating a powered wheelchair, and how that utilization might vary under different control interfaces. Read More

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2021 11;2021:6734-6737

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Hand impairment is a common consequence of stroke, potentially impacting all facets of life as the hands are the primary means of interacting with the world. Read More

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2021 11;2021:4949-4952

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medically complex and life-disrupting condition. It is estimated that 17,700 new traumatic SCI cases are reported each year in the United States. Approximately half of those cases, involves paralysis, sensory loss, and impaired motor control in the upper extremity (UE) and lower extremities. Read More

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2021 11;2021:4944-4948

Upper extremity (UE) weakness and/or paralysis following spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to a limited capacity to perform activities of daily living (ADL). Such disability significantly reduces an individual's level of independence. Further, restoration of UE motor function in people with SCI remains a high priority in rehabilitation and the field of assistive technology. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 11 26;18(23). Epub 2021 Nov 26.

Department of Rehabilitation, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.

Background: Powered mobility devices (PMD) promote independence, social participation, and quality of life for individuals with mobility limitations. However, some individuals would benefit from PMD, but may be precluded access. This is particularly true for those with cognitive impairments who may be perceived as unsafe and unable to use a PMD. Read More

IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2021 23;29:2635-2644. Epub 2021 Dec 23.

Advances in powered assistive device technology, including the ability to provide net mechanical power to multiple joints within a single device, have the potential to dramatically improve the mobility and restore independence to their users. However, these devices rely on the ability of their users to continuously control multiple powered lower-limb joints simultaneously. Success of such approaches rely on robust sensing of user intent and accurate mapping to device control parameters. Read More

J Am Geriatr Soc 2022 02 17;70(2):459-469. Epub 2021 Nov 17.

Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA.

Background: A decline in the ability to perform daily intentions-known as prospective memory-is a key driver of everyday functional impairment in dementia. In the absence of effective pharmacological treatments, there is a need for developing, testing, and optimizing behavioral interventions that can bolster daily prospective memory functioning. We investigated the feasibility and efficacy of smartphone-based strategies for prospective memory in persons with cognitive impairment. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2021 11 15;21(1):643. Epub 2021 Nov 15.

Digital Workstream, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP), Staffordshire, UK.

Background: Digital health solutions such as assistive technologies create significant opportunities to optimise the effectiveness of both health and social care delivery. Assistive technologies include 'low-tech' items, such as memory aids and digital calendars or 'high-tech' items, like health tracking devices and wearables. Depending on the type of assistive devices, they can be used to improve quality of life, effect lifestyle improvements and increase levels of independence. Read More

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2021 Oct 20:1-7. Epub 2021 Oct 20.

Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.

Purpose: Speech recognition technology (SRT) is increasingly available and may provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in necessary activities and meaningful occupations. This inquiry methodically collects and reports on research related to SRT for individuals with disabilities and impairments.

Materials And Methods: Using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA guidelines, five databases were queried and indexes of 11 journals were hand-searched for relevant articles. Read More

Sci Robot 2021 Oct 13;6(59):eabg6594. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Globally, more than 250 million people have impaired vision and face challenges navigating outside their homes, affecting their independence, mental health, and physical health. Navigating unfamiliar routes is challenging for people with impaired vision because it may require avoiding obstacles, recognizing objects, and wayfinding indoors and outdoors. Existing approaches such as white canes, guide dogs, and electronic travel aids only tackle some of these challenges. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2021 Sep 19;21(18). Epub 2021 Sep 19.

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, "Magna Græcia" University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.

The pandemic emergency of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) shed light on the need for innovative aids, devices, and assistive technologies to enable people with severe disabilities to live their daily lives. EEG-based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) can lead individuals with significant health challenges to improve their independence, facilitate participation in activities, thus enhancing overall well-being and preventing impairments. This systematic review provides state-of-the-art applications of EEG-based BCIs, particularly those using motor-imagery (MI) data, to wheelchair control and movement. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 09 14;18(18). Epub 2021 Sep 14.

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.

People with intellectual disability or psychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunctions may need assistive technology to maintain and improve their levels of functioning and independence. This study assessed a smartphone-based system to remind the user to initiate functional daily activities (e.g. Read More

Dev Med Child Neurol 2022 05 21;64(5):536-549. Epub 2021 Sep 21.

Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Aim: To provide recommendations for interventions to improve physical function for children and young people with cerebral palsy.

Method: An expert panel prioritized questions and patient-important outcomes. Using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methods, the panel assessed the certainty of evidence and made recommendations, with international expert and consumer consultation. Read More

Biomed Eng Online 2021 Sep 6;20(1):89. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Health and Rehabilitation Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.

Children with physical disabilities often have limited performance in daily activities, hindering their physical development, social development and mental health. Therefore, rehabilitation is essential to mitigate the adverse effects of the different causes of physical disabilities and improve independence and quality of life. In the last decade, robotic rehabilitation has shown the potential to augment traditional physical rehabilitation. Read More

Aust Occup Ther J 2021 12 28;68(6):490-503. Epub 2021 Jul 28.

Allied Health and Human Performance, International Centre for Allied Health Evidence, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Introduction: The manual wheelchair skills training programme is used to structure teaching manual wheelchair use for people following injury or disability. This pilot study aimed to explore the outcomes of introducing a group wheelchair skills training programme on skill performance, confidence and frequency of wheelchair use for people with lower limb amputation in a rehabilitation setting from the perspective of participants and group facilitators.

Method: This pilot study used a two-phase mixed methods nested design. Read More

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi 2021 Jun;23(6):608-612

Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.

Objective: To study the effect of rehabilitation treatment based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) Core Sets on activities of daily living in children with cerebral palsy.

Methods: The children with cerebral palsy were divided into an observation group (=63) and a control group (=59) using a random number table. The children in the observation group were evaluated using the brief ICF-CY Core Sets for children under 6 years to identify intervention targets and develop rehabilitation plans and goals, and then specific methods were selected for rehabilitation treatment. Read More

Percept Mot Skills 2021 Aug 3;128(4):1623-1639. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Physical Education, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.

Although scarce, some recent studies have observed good self-reported quality of life (QOL) among wheelchair users who are involved in adapted sports. These findings have encouraged further investigations, particularly investigations of combined sociodemographic and sport factors in the study of QOL. In this study we analyzed the association between sociodemographic and sport factors with QOL in a cross-sectional study of 105 male wheelchair handball (WH) athletes with higher and lower QOL. Read More

OTJR (Thorofare N J) 2021 07 3;41(3):175-184. Epub 2021 May 3.

The University of Sydney School of Health Sciences, New South Wales, Australia.

Powered wheelchair standing devices (PWSDs) allow supported standing for activity; however, little is known about their use. To understand factors affecting use of supported standing for participation among boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and characteristics of successful users, we gathered data over 7 days from boys who had used PWSDs for 24 months, using a smartphone application. We used descriptive statistics to identify factors that affected their participation. Read More

J Spinal Cord Med 2021 Feb 19:1-12. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.

Context: More than half of all spinal cord injuries (SCI) occur at the cervical level leading to loss of upper limb function, restricted activity and reduced independence. Several technologies have been developed to assist with upper limb functions in the SCI population.

Objective: There is no clear clinical consensus on the effectiveness of the current assistive technologies for the cervical SCI population, hence this study reviews the literature in the years between 1999 and 2019. Read More

PM R 2021 12 20;13(12):1418-1428. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.

Locked-in syndrome is a rare and devastating condition that results in tetraplegia, lower cranial nerve paralysis, and anarthria with preserved cognition, vertical gaze, and upper eyelid movements. Although acute management is much like that of any severe stroke, rehabilitation and recovery of these patients have not been previously described. Challenges relevant to this population include blood pressure management and orthostasis, timing and appropriateness of reinstating oral feeding, ventilatory support, decannulation after tracheostomy, bowel and bladder management, vestibular dysfunction, and eye care. Read More

J Neuroeng Rehabil 2021 01 6;18(1). Epub 2021 Jan 6.

NeuroEngineering And medical Robotics Laboratory, NearLab, Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Giuseppe Colombo 40, 20133, Milan, Italy.

Background: Upper limb assistive devices can compensate for muscular weakness and empower the user in the execution of daily activities. Multiple devices have been recently proposed but there is still a lack in the scientific comparison of their efficacy.

Methods: We conducted a cross-over multi-centric randomized controlled trial to assess the functional improvement at the upper limb level of two arms supports on 36 patients with muscular dystrophy. Read More

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2020 Dec 1:1-12. Epub 2020 Dec 1.

Faculty of Science & Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK.

Purpose: It is important to promote assistive technologies to improve quality of life. The proposed SmartAbility Android Application recommends assistive technologies for people with reduced physical abilities, by focussing on actions that can be performed independently.

Materials And Methods: The SmartAbility Application uses Android built-in sensors, e. Read More

J Neuroeng Rehabil 2020 11 30;17(1):157. Epub 2020 Nov 30.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Kentucky, 2050 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY, 40504, USA.

Background: Dynamic body-weight support (DBWS) may play an important role in rehabilitation outcomes, but the potential benefit among disease-specific populations is unclear. In this study, we hypothesize that overground therapy with DBWS during inpatient rehabilitation yields greater functional improvement than standard-of-care in adults with non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NT-SCI).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included individuals diagnosed with NT-SCI and undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2020 11 18;20(1):528. Epub 2020 Nov 18.

College of Health, Medicine and Health Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK.

Background: Support walkers are a type of assistive device that may enable non-ambulant children with disabilities to walk independently and promote improvements in bowel function, bone mineral density (BMD), mobility, independence, participation and social function. However, there is little evidence to support these benefits and there is a lack of research describing the use of support walkers in clinical practice. This study aimed to examine the use of support walkers for children with disabilities in clinical practice. Read More

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2020 Nov 9:1-10. Epub 2020 Nov 9.

Forschungsgruppe Geriatrie, Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Background: Restrictions in mobility can lead to social and health-related issues. Assistive technologies and devices can help to sustain or regain mobility in affected persons. One of the most commonly used devices is the wheelchair. Read More