M Ahmadi Bani1, M Arazpour1, F Farahmand2, A Azmand3, S W Hutchins4, R Vahab Kashani1, M E Mousavi1. 1. Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. 1] Mechanical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran [2] Research Center of Biomedical Technology and Robotics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Faculty Health Sciences Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Faculty of Health & Social Care, IHSCR, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and evaluation of a new medial linkage reciprocating gait orthosis (MLRGO) that incorporates a reciprocal mechanism and is sensitive to pelvic motion to potentially assist paraplegic patients to walk and provide functional independence. CASE DESCRIPTION AND METHODS: The new orthosis was constructed and tested by a 20-year-old female paraplegic subject with transverse myelitis at T10 level, who was 4 years post injury and had also been an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis (IRGO) user for 2 years. She received gait training for 12 weeks before undertaking gait analysis, and also completed a questionnaire that was designed to assess the perceived functionality of the new MLRGO when compared with an IRGO. RESULTS: The results demonstrated improvements in gait velocity, step length and cadence, and also improvement in functional independence with the new orthosis compared with an IRGO. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that this new MLRGO could be used for paraplegic patients who would like an improvement in functional independence and ambulation.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to describe the development and evaluation of a new medial linkage reciprocating gait orthosis (MLRGO) that incorporates a reciprocal mechanism and is sensitive to pelvic motion to potentially assist paraplegic patients to walk and provide functional independence. CASE DESCRIPTION AND METHODS: The new orthosis was constructed and tested by a 20-year-old female paraplegic subject with transverse myelitis at T10 level, who was 4 years post injury and had also been an isocentric reciprocating gait orthosis (IRGO) user for 2 years. She received gait training for 12 weeks before undertaking gait analysis, and also completed a questionnaire that was designed to assess the perceived functionality of the new MLRGO when compared with an IRGO. RESULTS: The results demonstrated improvements in gait velocity, step length and cadence, and also improvement in functional independence with the new orthosis compared with an IRGO. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that this new MLRGO could be used for paraplegic patients who would like an improvement in functional independence and ambulation.