Maria Martins

A review of the functionalities of smart walkers

There is a need to conceptualize and improve the investigation and developments in assistive devices, focusing on the design and effectiveness of walkers in the users rehabilitation process and functional compensation. This review surveys the importance of smart walkers in maintaining mobility and discusses their potential in rehabilitation and their demands as assistive devices. It also presents related research in addressing and quantifying the smart walkers efficiency and influence on gait. Besides, it discusses smart walkers focusing on studies related to the concept of autonomous and shared-control and manual guidance, the use of smart walkers as personal helpers to sit-to-stand and diagnostic tools for patients rehabilitation through the evaluation of their gait.

Online control of a mobility assistance Smart Walker

This work presents the ASBGo Smart Walker, developed at Minho University with the Adaptive System Behavior Group. It includes the conceptual design, implementation and validation of a Smart Walker with a new interface approach integrated. It was addressed the assembly of the ASBGo with the required electronics, as well as the implementation of the interface based on a joystick. This sensor is intended to read the users movement intentions to command the walker. Thus, preliminary sets of experiments were performed with 10 healthy volunteers walking with the device. This was followed by the signal processing and extensive analysis of the joystick signals, which showed the capability of the joystick to extract navigation commands from the user. Based on this real-time identification of users commands, an approach to the control architecture of the ASBGo was developed and it is based on a fuzzy logic algorithm that allowed the control of the walkers motors. A set of validation experiments were then performed. In addition, it was addressed the security of the user by adding a set of sensors to detect if the user falls.

The Application of Cycling and Cycling Combined with Feedback in the Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients: A Review

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disabilities, such as hemiparesis, inability to walk without assistance, and dependence of others in the activities of daily living. Motor function rehabilitation after stroke demands for methods oriented to the recovery of the walking capacity. Because of the similarities with walking, cycling leg exercise may present a solution to this problem. The aim of this article is to review the state of the art applications of cycling leg exercise as a (1) motor function rehabilitation method and an (2) aerobic training method for stroke patients as well as the commonly used (3) assessment tools. The cycling characteristics and applications, the applied test protocols as well as the tools used to assess the state and the recovery of patients and types of cycling devices are presented. In addition, the potential benefits of the use of other therapies, like feedback, together with cycling are explored. The application of cycling leg exercise alone and combined with feedback in stroke rehabilitation approaches has shown promising results. Positive effects on motor abilities were found in subacute and chronic patients. However, larger and normalized studies and assessments are needed because there is a high heterogeneity in the patients characteristics, protocols and metrics. This wil allow the comparison between different studies related with cycling.

Feature reduction and multi-classification of different assistive devices according to the gait pattern

Abstract Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgical procedure used in patients with Osteoarthritis to improve their state. An understanding about how gait patterns differ from patient to patient and are influenced by the assistive device (AD) that is prescribed is still missing. This article focuses on such purpose. Standard walker, crutches and rollator were tested. Symmetric indexes of spatiotemporal and postural control features were calculated. In order to select the important features which can discriminate the differences among the ADs, different techniques for feature selection are investigated. Classification is handled by Multi-class Support Vector Machine. Results showed that rollator provides a more symmetrical gait and crutches demonstrated to be the worst. Relatively to postural control parameters, standard walker is the most stable and crutches are the worst AD. This means that, depending on the patient’s problem and the recovery goal, different ADs should be used. After selecting a set of 16 important features, through correlation, it was demonstrated that they provide important quantitative information about the functional capacity, which is not represented by velocity, cadence and clinical scales. Also, they were capable of distinguishing the gait patterns influenced by each AD, showing that each patient has different needs during recovery. Implications of Rehabilitation An understanding about how gait patterns of post-surgical patients differ from person to person and how they are influenced by the type of device that is prescribed during their recovery might help in physical therapy. Research specifically addressing these issues is still missing. Inter-limb asymmetry and postural control features can be evaluated in an outpatient setting, supplying important additional information about individual gait pattern, which is not represented by gait velocity, cadence and scales usually used. The features calculated in this study are able to provide complementary information to gait velocity, cadence and clinical scales to assess the functional capacity of patients that passed through TKA. The selected parameters make a new clinical tool useful for tracking the evolution of patients’ recovery after TKA.

Design, implementation and testing of a new user interface for a smart walker

This paper proposes to present and discuss in detail the design of a novel handlebar of a motorized walker to be used as an interface between the user and the motor controller of the wheels. This device enables the user to indicate and command the direction and speed of the walkers motion. This new interface intends to be user-friendly and low cost. Safety considerations are also addressed to detect users fall. Preliminary results indicate that it is feasible to combine low cost sensors with a simple motor control, allowing a smooth and enjoyable driving, and fast response of the walker with no sense of delay.

A new integrated device to read user intentions when walking with a Smart Walker

Walkers are commonly seen in hospitals and clinics, but only individuals with fairly good motor function can use them. Hence, walkers should be more adaptive to the various needs of the users. This study includes the conceptual design, implementation and validation of a Smart Walker with a new interface approach integrated. The implementation of the interface is based on two potentiometers and it intends to read the users movement intentions to command the walker. In addition, this new interface can be adapted to different types of patients through the adjustment of its dynamical characteristics. Based on this real-time identification of users commands, an approach to the control architecture was developed and it is based on a fuzzy logic algorithm that allows to control the walkers motors and permitsthe user to manipulate the Smart Walker at his own pace. Results with healthy users show the reliability of the proposed device and control architecture to read the user intentions and control the walker accordingly.

Multivariate analysis of walker-assisted ambulation

In an aging society it is extremely important to develop devices which can support and aid the elderly in their daily life. Walkers play an important role, due to the large number of potential users, its simplicity and their ambulatory potential. However, there are no clinical evidences that prove the efficacy of such devices, mainly rollators that present forearm supports. In this context, the authors aim to propose a protocol for an innovative gait analysis that addresses some benefits and limitations of these devices on the rehabilitation process, by addressing a multivariate analysis of spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters assessed during normal and assisted ambulation with a walker with forearm supports. For the 3D-reconstruction of the body segments it was used a movement analysis system. Results showed that the effects of assisted gait can be explained through support, energy consumption, posture and balance characteristics. These results are very satisfactory since aspects regarding these characteristics enhance the rehabilitation potential of the use of walkers with forearm supports. These results will be used to advance towards an active robotic walker that will provide for safety and natural manoeuvrability and offer a certain degree of intelligence in assistance and decision-making.

Smart walker use for ataxia's rehabilitation: Case study

It is important to verify the potential of assistive technology like smart walkers and their long-term effects in rehabilitation therapies. Thus, this study introduced a smart walker in the rehabilitation of an ataxic patient during 3 weeks. His gait pattern and postural stability was acquired and evaluated. Great improvements in gait parameters as well as in postural stability were observed.