摘要:

The investigation studied the effects of biofeedback on the sitting posture of a 14 year old girl with cerebral palsy. The subject's posture was quantified using a video analysis technique which established the threshold of poor posture at 30°from the vertical plane. A stimulator system was designed using an adapted drop foot stimulator and a custom made controller with a mercury tilt switch as the posture angle transducer. If posture became greater than 30°tactile electrical stimulation was administered to the subject's lower back. Repetitive stimuli occurred on non-correction of posture, with a maximum of 4 consecutive stimuli, upon which an alarm was activated. 10 training sessions of 20 min duration were completed over a 4 week period, monitored using a data logger. Following initial improvement the daily results show a gradual deterioration in posture, whilst post-trial video analysis indicates a significant improvement in posture. An improved response to the alarm stimulus is observed. Reasons for these conflicting findings are discussed.

ISSN:0309-1902    

DOI:10.3109/03091909609008380

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

For patients with neurolopcal damage of the central nevous system, such as that due to cerebrovascular accident (CVA), standing balance training is a critical therapeutic procedure to be undertaken before walking and self-care training. The identification and characterization of neurological disorder in postural steadiness will enhance our understanding of the postural cuntrol system, and help to identify patients at risk of falls in, th CVA population. This paper discusses the design and clinical evaluation of a new biofeedback training device for static (postural steadiness) performance of the standing balance system. The device includes a height adjustable standing table, an instrumented force seasing plarform, an on-line weight bearing audio/visual biofeedback system, a postural correction mirror, and a belt suspension system for the upper extremities. A quantitatiue eualuaiion protocol of bilateral asymmetries in weight distribution and postural sway to characterize standing balance with the force sensing platform is discussed. Finally, the clinical evaluation results of sixty patients with hemiplegia from acute stroke for a period of four weeks are discussed. With this economic standing training devices, the static standing steadiness can be trained effectively through weight bearing biofeedback and a postural correction mirror in the clinical and home caring environments.

ISSN:0309-1902    

DOI:10.3109/03091909609008381

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

We describe here the reliability and validity of methods to quantify involuntary muscle torque induced by non-invasive nerve stimulation. A rigid apparatus was used to hold the subject 5 limb in a predetermined position and confine movement to a specific direction (i.e. ankle dorsiflexion or thumb adduction). An incorporated strain gauge was used to measure isometric torque, and all data were recorded by a data acquisition program. The innervating nerves were stimulated by surface electrodes, using either single stimuli to generate a twitch, or short trains of stimuli to produce tetanic contraction of the individual muscle under study. The average peak tetanic torque generated by the dorsflexor muscles in healthy control was 20.4±3.8 Nm and varied by 37% with repeated testing. The mean torque generated by the adductor pollicis muscle in controls was 1.5±0.4 Nm and varied by 4.6% with repeated testing. In patient populations significant changes in activated torque were readily quantified, and the effects of treatment can be easily assessed. Furthermore, several specific parameters of recorded isometric contractions were measured; e.g. time between stimulus and torque onset, peak rate of torque development, time to peak torque, half-relaxation time, and others (none of which are measurable when using voluntary contraction of muscle). Compared to current assessment methods, monitoring muscle torque generated by nerve stimulation improves objectivity, reliability, and quantitative capabilities. The presented method has significant potential both in diagnosing neuromuscular disorders and determining treatment efficacy.

ISSN:0309-1902    

DOI:10.3109/03091909609008382

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

摘要:

An arm phantom for testing non-invasive blood pressure measuring instruments under reproducible and real conditions has been developed. Signal records, recorded on patients and validated by a reference method, are played into the instruments to be tested using a combination of an electro-pneumatic and an electro-acoustic converter. For each of 90 patients a database contains records of at least three different kinds of signal: cuff pressure oscillations, Korotkoff sounds (except in neonates) and cuff pressure. As the inflation and deflation rate varies between different sphygmomanometers the control and synchronization of the signal output are ensured as a function of the instantaneous cuff pressure, measured continuously by the system. A segmented output procedure synchronizes the data flow during the test procedure. The records of blood pressure signals are separated in different signal groups, containing only one pressure oscillation and Korotkoff sound respectively, whereas the instantaneous cuff pressure determines the signal group to be selected. Suitable interfaces to the sphygmomanometers under test consist of two specifically developed signal converters, an electro-pneumatic converter and an electro-acoustic converter. The system generates both cuff pressure oscillations and Korotkoff sounds from real data earlier recorded on human subjects. It allows any inflation and deflation rate of the cuff pressure to be applied, considers the variability of the pulse rate occurring in the same data record and finally it allows the superposition of artefacts. The arm phantom can replace clinical trials. The possibility of testing the limits of the performance of sphygmomanometers has been considerably extended.

ISSN:0309-1902    

DOI:10.3109/03091909609008383

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

ISSN:0309-1902    

DOI:10.3109/03091909609008384

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

ISSN:0309-1902    

DOI:10.3109/03091909609008385

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor

ISSN:0309-1902    

DOI:10.3109/03091909609008386

出版商:Taylor&Francis    

年代:1996

数据来源: Taylor