scholarly journals Wireless Brain-Robot Interface: User Perception and Performance Assessment of Spinal Cord Injury Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alkinoos Athanasiou ◽  
George Arfaras ◽  
Niki Pandria ◽  
Ioannis Xygonakis ◽  
Nicolas Foroglou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Psychometric Evaluation ◽  
Assistive Robotics ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
User Perception ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Cervical Injuries ◽  
And Performance

Patients suffering from life-changing disability due to Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) increasingly benefit from assistive robotics technology. The field of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has started to develop mature assistive applications for those patients. Nonetheless, noninvasive BCIs still lack accurate control of external devices along several degrees of freedom (DoFs). Unobtrusiveness, portability, and simplicity should not be sacrificed in favor of complex performance and user acceptance should be a key aim among future technological directions. In our study 10 subjects with SCI (one complete) and 10 healthy controls were recruited. In a single session they operated two anthropomorphic 8-DoF robotic arms via wireless commercial BCI, using kinesthetic motor imagery to perform 32 different upper extremity movements. Training skill and BCI control performance were analyzed with regard to demographics, neurological condition, independence, imagery capacity, psychometric evaluation, and user perception. Healthy controls, SCI subgroup with positive neurological outcome, and SCI subgroup with cervical injuries performed better in BCI control. User perception of the robot did not differ between SCI and healthy groups. SCI subgroup with negative outcome rated Anthropomorphism higher. Multi-DoF robotics control is possible by patients through commercial wireless BCI. Multiple sessions and tailored BCI algorithms are needed to improve performance.

scholarly journals Improvement of hand functions of spinal cord injury patients with electromyography-driven hand exoskeleton: A feasibility study

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngmok Yun ◽  
Youngjin Na ◽  
Paria Esmatloo ◽  
Sarah Dancausse ◽  
Alfredo Serrato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Finger Movements ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Hand Exoskeleton

Abstract We have developed a one-of-a-kind hand exoskeleton, called Maestro, which can power finger movements of those surviving severe disabilities to complete daily tasks using compliant joints. In this paper, we present results from an electromyography (EMG) control strategy conducted with spinal cord injury (SCI) patients (C5, C6, and C7) in which the subjects completed daily tasks controlling Maestro with EMG signals from their forearm muscles. With its compliant actuation and its degrees of freedom that match the natural finger movements, Maestro is capable of helping the subjects grasp and manipulate a variety of daily objects (more than 15 from a standardized set). To generate control commands for Maestro, an artificial neural network algorithm was implemented along with a probabilistic control approach to classify and deliver four hand poses robustly with three EMG signals measured from the forearm and palm. Increase in the scores of a standardized test, called the Sollerman hand function test, and enhancement in different aspects of grasping such as strength shows feasibility that Maestro can be capable of improving the hand function of SCI subjects.

scholarly journals Development of a Spinal Cord Injury Model Permissive to Study the Cardiovascular Effects of Rehabilitation Approaches Designed to Induce Neuroplasticity

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1006
Author(s):  
Liisa Wainman ◽  
Erin L. Erskine ◽  
Mehdi Ahmadian ◽  
Thomas Matthew Hanna ◽  
Christopher R. West
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Ventricular Contractility ◽  
Clinical Model ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Hemodynamic Function ◽  
Cervical Injuries

As primary medical care for spinal cord injury (SCI) has improved over the last decades there are more individuals living with neurologically incomplete (vs. complete) cervical injuries. For these individuals, a number of promising therapies are being actively researched in pre-clinical settings that seek to strengthen the remaining spinal pathways with a view to improve motor function. To date, few, if any, of these interventions have been tested for their effectiveness to improve autonomic and cardiovascular (CV) function. As a first step to testing such therapies, we aimed to develop a model that has sufficient sparing of descending sympathetic pathways for these interventions to target yet induces robust CV impairment. Twenty-six Wistar rats were assigned to SCI (n = 13) or naïve (n = 13) groups. Animals were injured at the T3 spinal segment with 300 kdyn of force. Fourteen days post-SCI, left ventricular (LV) and arterial catheterization was performed to assess in vivo cardiac and hemodynamic function. Spinal cord lesion characteristics along with sparing in catecholaminergic and serotonergic projections were determined via immunohistochemistry. SCI produced a decrease in mean arterial pressure of 17 ± 3 mmHg (p < 0.001) and left ventricular contractility (end-systolic elastance) of 0.7 ± 0.1 mmHg/µL (p < 0.001). Our novel SCI model produced significant decreases in cardiac and hemodynamic function while preserving 33 ± 9% of white matter at the injury epicenter, which we believe makes it a useful pre-clinical model of SCI to study rehabilitation approaches designed to induce neuroplasticity.

Level of Sports Participation and Performance among People with Spinal Cord Injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51
Author(s):  
Oshin Amberkar ◽  
Bela Agarwal ◽  
Yuvraj Singh ◽  
Ruturaj Shete ◽  
Rajani Mullerpatan
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
And Performance

Wheelchair Skills Capacity and Performance of Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 1761-1769 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Lee Kirby ◽  
Lynn A. Worobey ◽  
Rachel Cowan ◽  
Jessica Presperin Pedersen ◽  
Allen W. Heinemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Wheelchair Users ◽  
Manual Wheelchair ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
And Performance

scholarly journals Comparison of strategies and performance of functional electrical stimulation cycling in spinal cord injury pilots for competition in the first ever CYBATHLON

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Azevedo Coste ◽  
Vance Bergeron ◽  
Rik Berkelmans ◽  
Emerson Fachin Martins ◽  
Ché Fornusek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Functional Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Muscular Contraction ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Clinical Environments ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Mechanical Devices ◽  
Complete Spinal Cord Injury

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) can elicit muscular contraction and restore motor function in paralyzed limbs. FES is a rehabilitation technique applied to various sensorimotor deficiencies and in different functional situations, e.g. grasping, walking, standing, transfer, cycling and rowing. FES can be combined with mechanical devices. FES-assisted cycling is mainly used in clinical environments for training sessions on cycle ergometers, but it has also been adapted for mobile devices, usually tricycles. In October 2016, twelve teams participated in the CYBATHLON competition in the FES-cycling discipline for persons with motor-complete spinal cord injury. It was the first event of this kind and a wide variety of strategies, techniques and designs were employed by the different teams in the competition. The approaches of the teams are detailed in this special issue. We hope that the knowledge contained herein, together with recent positive results of FES for denervated degenerating muscles, will provide a solid basis to encourage improvements in FES equipment and open new opportunities for many patients in need of safe and effective FES management. We hope to see further developments and/or the benefit of new training strategies at future FES competitions, e.g. at the Cybathlon 2020 (www.cybathlon.ethz.ch).

scholarly journals Protein Considerations for Athletes With a Spinal Cord Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joelle Leonie Flueck ◽  
Jill A. Parnell
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Secondary Complications ◽  
Performance Factors ◽  
Nutritional Guidelines ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Paralympic Games

Athlete participation in the Paralympic games is steadily increasing; prompting research focused on the unique needs of this population. While the Paralympic Games includes a diversity of athletes, athletes with a spinal cord injury (PARA-SCI) represent a subgroup that requires specialized recommendations. Nutritional guidelines designed to optimize performance, in the context of the neurological impairments, are required. This narrative review summarizes the current literature regarding the importance of dietary protein for optimal health and performance. Factors with the potential to affect protein needs in PARA-SCI including loss of active muscle mass, reduced energy expenditure, and secondary complications are examined in detail. Furthermore, we analyze protein intakes in PARA-SCI from the available research to provide context around current practices and trends. In conclusion, we make the case that protein recommendations for able-bodied athletes may not be directly transferable to PARA-SCI. Consequently, PARA-SCI need their own guidelines to maximize performance and ensure long-term health.

scholarly journals Elevated Serum Neuropeptide FF Levels Are Associated with Cognitive Decline in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Shifei Sun ◽  
Shilong Sun ◽  
Yan Meng ◽  
Bin Shi ◽  
Yuanzhen Chen
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Baseline Serum ◽  
Neuropeptide Ff ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Laboratory Variables

Background. Spinal cord injury (SCI) has high incidence globally and is frequently accompanied by subsequent cognitive decline. Accurate early risk-categorization of SCI patients for cognitive decline using biomarkers can enable the timely application of appropriate neuroprotective measures and the development of new agents for the management of SCI-associated cognitive decline. Neuropeptide FF is an endogenous neuropeptide with a multitude of functions and is associated with neuroinflammatory processes. This prospective study investigated the predictive value of serum neuropeptide FF levels measured after acute SCI for subsequent cognitive decline. Methods. 88 patients presenting with acute SCI without preexisting neurological injury, brain trauma, or severe systemic illness and 60 healthy controls were recruited. Serum neuropeptide FF levels, clinical, and routine laboratory variables including low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, fasting blood glucose, total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels collected from all subjects were assessed. Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) was performed 3 months after enrollment. SCI patients were grouped according to quartile of serum neuropeptide FF level and MoCA scores were compared using ANOVA. Additionally, multivariate linear regression with clinical and laboratory variables was performed to predict MoCA scores. Results. SCI patients displayed significantly higher baseline serum neuropeptide FF levels than healthy controls ( 38.5 ± 4.1 versus 23.4 ± 2.0   pg / ml , p < 0.001 ∗ ∗ ). SCI patients in higher quartiles of baseline serum neuropeptide FF displayed significantly lower MoCA scores at 3 months. Linear regression analysis indicated serum neuropeptide FF levels as a significant independent predictor of worse MoCA scores after SCI ( r = 0.331 , p = 0.034 ∗ ). Conclusion. Early serum neuropeptide FF levels significantly and independently predicted cognitive decline after acute SCI among patients without preexisting neurological disorders.

Quality of life in persons with spinal cord injury: comparisons with other populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (Suppl1) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxwell Boakye ◽  
Barbara C. Leigh ◽  
Andrea C. Skelly
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Normative Data ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
The Impact

Object The aim of this study was to identify the quality of life (QOL) measures commonly used to assess patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to summarize studies using common QOL measures that have been validated in SCI populations to compare scores in persons with SCI with those in a control population. Methods A systematic search of PubMed was conducted to identify studies using common QOL measures in persons with SCI and those comparing scores for QOL measures in an SCI population with scores in other populations. The authors sought comparative studies utilizing QOL measures for which validity and reliability analyses had been done. Results Of 28 QOL measures found, validity and reliability studies had been conducted in patients with SCI for 5 measures. Twelve comparative studies compared QOL in SCI patients with QOL in healthy controls or in patients with other disabilities, or with normative data. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the short version of the WHOQOL (WHOQOL-BREF) were the most widely used QOL instruments. Patients with SCI had a decreased QOL as compared with that in healthy controls or normative data, with the most pronounced deficits in the domains of physical functioning and physical role limitations. In 3 studies, patients with tetraplegia had a lower physical domain QOL than did those with paraplegia. Overall, however, the impact of injury level and injury completeness on QOL after SCI remains unclear due to a lack of longitudinal studies. Conclusions The SF-36 and WHOQOL-BREF are validated instruments that should be considered for use in SCI QOL studies. Future analysis of deficits in QOL among patients with SCI would benefit from the development of a QOL instrument specifically targeted to SCI. Longitudinal studies to assess the impact of injury level and injury completeness on SCI QOL are also needed.

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