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Manually generating the operating procedures is often laborious, time-consuming, and error-prone. Because the online sensors may not always be adequate for a designated operation in the plant, the ...

There have been increasing cases of people seeking treatment for neck and back pain. The most common cause of neck and back pain is due to long-term poor sitting posture. The most common poor sitting posture cases are humpback, and head and neck being too far forward. It is easy to cause neck and back pain and other symptoms. Therefore, the development of wearable posture monitoring system for dynamic assessment of sitting posture becomes both helpful and necessary. In addition to recording the wearer's posture when sitting with quantitative assessment, it is needed to execute real-time action feedback for correctness of posture, in order to reduce neck and back pain due to long-term poor sitting posture. This study completed an instant recording and dynamic assessment of position measurement and feedback system. The system consists of a number of dynamic measurement units that can describe the posture trajectory, which integrates three-axis gyro meter, three-axis accelerometer, and magnetometer in order to measure the dynamic tracking. In the reliability analysis experiment, angle measurement error is less than 2%. The correlation coefficient between correlation analysis and Motion Analysis (MA) is 0.97. It is shown that the motion trajectory of this system is highly correlated with MA. In the feasibility test of sitting position detection, it is possible to detect the sitting position from the basic action of the walking, standing, sitting and lying down, and the sensitivity reaches 95.84%. In the assessment of the sitting position, the information published by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety was used, as well as the recommendations of professional physicians as a basis for evaluating the threshold of the sitting measurement parameters and immediately feedback to the subjects. The system developed in this study can be helpful to reduce neck and back pain due to long-term poor sitting posture.

BACKGROUND This study was to investigate the effects of prophylactic Kinesio taping and athletic taping on the functional performance of the lower extremities in healthy collegiate players with tapes applied to the dominant leg. METHODS The study design was a prospective, randomized, clinical trial with comparison of groups. The 32 healthy collegiate players who participated in this study were randomly assigned to 2 groups, an athletic taping group and a Kinesio taping group. Active range of motion of ankle joint, ankle plantar-flexor strength, endurance, vertical jump performance, and dynamic balance were used to measure the player's functional performance of the lower extremities. These tests were conducted 2 times at 4-hour intervals before and after different tapes were applied. The repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine the interaction in functional performance between the groups before and after the tapes applied. RESULTS The results found less limitation of range of motion in active ankle dorsiflexion and significant improvement in dynamic balance in the Kinesio taping group (F=5.150, P=0.031, F=18.766, P

To evaluate whether a bout of leg cycling in patients with stroke reduces muscle tone and to determine whether neuromuscular functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the affected leg during cycling is more effective than cycling without FES.Within-subject comparison.University hospital.Patients with stroke (N=16; age range, 42-72y;8wk poststroke) with hypertonia in the affected leg.Subjects' affected leg (1) performed cycling exercise with the assistance of FES (assisted-cycling session) and (2) performed cycling exercise without the assistance of FES (nonassisted-cycling session). Subjects sat in a specially designed wheelchair positioned on a resistance-free roller for each 20-minute session.Changes in muscle tone pre- and posttest session were compared by using the Modified Ashworth Scale and the pendulum test (relaxation index and peak velocity).Modified Ashworth Scale scores were significantly lower (P.05) and relaxation index and peak velocity values were significantly higher (P.05) after both sessions. Changes in Modified Ashworth Scale scores, relaxation index, and peak velocity values showed a significant (P.05) difference between the 2 sessions, and assisted cycling reduced hypertonia more than nonassisted cycling.The hypertonia of patients with stroke showed a significant decrease immediately after a bout of leg-cycling exercise. FES-assisted leg cycling was better than nonassisted cycling for reducing hypertonia.

A novel O 2 sensor was made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesized by a thermal chemical vapor deposition system. The resistance of such grown CNT thin film was measured in a vacuum chamber at various oxygen pressures and was found to exhibit a cyclic property according to the oxygen filling-pumping cycle. The sensitivity was very linear from 2.59% to 6.22%, corresponding to oxygen filling pressures from 6.665 × 10 − 2 mbar to 1.066 mbar. Afterward, the CNT thin film underwent various field emission treatments, and the resistance measurement was repeated under the same condition. At an O 2 pressure of 1.066 mbar, the sensitivity was 10.68%, 5.73%, and 4.38% with 1, 2, and 3 h of field emission treatment, respectively. It still retained good linearity after the field emission treatment. The Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the sensitivity was related to the ratio of I D / I G and O/C. A proper duration of field emission treatments could improve the performance of CNT oxygen sensors.

CNT-ZnO composite materials were successfully grown by thermal chemical vapor deposition (thermal CVD). First, Multiwalled Carbon nanotubes were synthesized in the temperature range of 500-700 °C. After coating Au nanoparticles on such grown CNTs, ZnO nanowires were synthesized via Zn evaporation method at 500 °C. SEM images showed that these CNT-ZnO composites were spinous, and XRD analyses showed that the spinal ZnO were crystalline. The turn-on field of CNT-ZnO composite materials with 500 °C growth temperature of underlying CNTs was 3.72 V/μm, which was 5.58 V/μm for CNTs grown at 500 °C. It was also found that the higher temperature (

Objective: To determine whether short-term propulsion of a functional electrical stimulation-assisted leg-cycling wheelchair (FES-LW) in patients with stroke can reduce spasticity of the affected leg and whether FES has additional effects on reducing spasticity. Design: Within-subject comparison. Subjects: A total of 17 patients after stroke were recruited from the university hospital. Methods: Subjects propelled 2 leg-cycling wheelchairs (the FES-LW and the LW) and a manual wheelchair along an oval pathway. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), H reflex/maximal M response (H/M ratio) and relaxation index were used to evaluate the immediate effects on leg spasticity. The changes in MAS, H/M and relaxation index were used to evaluate the effect of FES in comparing 2 leg-cycling wheelchairs. Results: The MAS and H/M ratio were significantly decreased and the relaxation index significantly increased by FES-LW and LW usage. For subjects with higher muscle tone, significant lowering of the changes in MAS, H/M ratio and higher relaxation index were found for FESLW usage compared with LW usage. Conclusion: Leg spasticity is reduced after short-term propulsion of the FES-LW and LW. The application of FES has an additional effect on reducing spasticity in subjects with higher muscle tone.

Hemiplegic stroke patients are physically able to use only one arm and leg, those on the unaffected side, to propel and steer a manual wheelchair; therefore, it is difficult for them to use current manual wheelchairs. Although there have been a number of outstanding studies on wheelchair propulsion, very few have dealt with the wheelchair propulsion problems for stroke patients, whose propulsion styles are greatly different from users with healthy upper limbs. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel wheelchair for stroke patients based on their needs. A planar four-bar chain mechanism was introduced to develop the new wheelchair, and a clinical evaluation in a rehabilitation center was also done to evaluate the chair's usability. The prototype we developed allows stroke patients to use their legs and arms together to propel the wheelchair, and permits them to steer the wheelchair safely and efficiently. Eleven stroke patients with right hemiplegia were recruited to clinically evaluate the newly designed prototype, the unilaterally propelled wheelchair (UPW), in a comparison with a commercial two-handrim propelled wheelchair (TPW). The results revealed that the velocity, deviation frequency, and deviation period of the UPW were superior to those of the TPW. We concluded that it is easier, safer, and more efficient for hemiplegic stroke patients to use the UPW than the TPW. Relevance to industry The manual wheelchair has many demonstrable benefits for users who have mobility problems and sufficient upper-limb strength to propel one. However, it can be difficult for stroke patients to propel current manual wheelchairs. This study offers an innovative wheelchair, designed with the needs of hemiplegic stroke patients in mind, that offers improved efficiency and safety, thereby promoting independent living.

Stroke survivors might lose their walking and balancing abilities, but many studies pointed out that cycling is an effective means for lower limb rehabilitation. However, during cycle training, the unaffected limb tends to compensate for the affected one, which resulted in suboptimal rehabilitation. To address this issue, we present a Virtual Reality-Cycling Training System (VRCTS), which senses the cycling force and speed in real-time, analyzes the acquired data to produce feedback to patients with a controllable VR car in a VR rehabilitation program, and thus specifically trains the affected side. The aim of the study was to verify the functionality of the VRCTS and to verify the results from the ten stroke patients participants and to compare the result of Asymmetry Ratio Index (ARI) between the experimental group and the control group, after their training, by using the bilateral pedal force and force plate to determine any training effect. The results showed that after the VRCTS training in bilateral pedal force it had improved by 0.22 (p=0.046) and in force plate the stand balance has also improved by 0.29 (p=0.031); thus both methods show the significant difference.

Sustained muscle stretch (SMS) is commonly used to reduce hypertonia. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of three different SMS protocols, namely constant-angle, cyclic, and constant-torque stretching, in the immediate reducing of ankle hypertonia. Forty-seven hemiplegic subjects, 53.7+/-10.3 years old and 22.4+/-16.0 months after stroke, with hypertonic ankle joints were recruited to undergo three SMS applied to protocols treatment their hypertonic ankle joints using an integrated treatment/assessment system. The immediate post-treatment effectiveness of each stretching protocol was assessed by reference to the pre-treatment Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), passive range of motion (ROM), and reactive torque measurement, from which the viscous-elastic components of the ankle joint were derived. All three SMS protocols successfully reduced MAS grade. Additionally, each stretching method yielded an increase in ankle ROM, from 9.7 degrees to 16 degrees , 9.6 degrees to 14.8 degrees , and 9.2 degrees to 18.3 degrees for the constant-angle, cyclic-stretching, constant-torque protocols, respectively, and reduction of the elastic and viscous properties of the ankle joint dorsiflexion (p

A novel three-terminal gas sensor was fulfilled by utilizing the vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) mat. Carbon nanotubes were synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition (thermal CVD) at 700 °C under C2H2 gas flow rate of 30 sccm. Upon exposure to a with and without N2 environment at the room temperature of 25 °C, the electrical resistance of as-made devices was found to increase and to return back, respectively. Compared to a low bias one, the sensitivity increased when applying a high source drain bias voltage. Furthermore, the device became more sensitive for N2 detection by applying a negative gate voltage. It was concluded that the alteration of free holes concentration in the CNTs mat played the major mechanism for the N2 gas detection.

Background and Purpose. Global synkinesis (GS), or motor irradiation, is an involuntary movement associated with the coactivation of numerous muscles in one limb when the opposite limb is active. The electromyographic (EMG) patterns of people with stroke and people who were healthy were analyzed to characterize GS development in relation to joint involvement and to attempt to relate these findings to clinical observations. Subjects and Methods. Twenty patients with stroke, divided into 2 groups with either greater levels of irradiation (SG, n=10) or lesser levels of irradiation (SL, n=10), and 20 subjects in a control group were studied. A dynamometer was used to provide resistance for voluntary isometric muscle contractions of the flexor muscle groups of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. The summated and standardized net EMG amplitudes of 8 principal muscles of the unexercised (paretic) upper extremity were used to characterize intensity and spatial representation of GS. Clinical measurements included the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA), Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living (BI), and the stage on the Brunnström Stages of Motor Recovery Scale (BR). Results. In the SG and control groups, a more substantial GS intensity was associated with muscle contractions of the flexor muscles of the opposite proximal joint than was the case for contractions of the flexor muscles of the distal joint, whereas such a gradient change was absent in the SL group. The corresponding spatial patterns of GS exhibited a predominant cross-excitation over the unexercised pectoralis major and extensor carpi radialis muscles in the control group, contrary to the enhanced activation of the brachioradialis and biceps brachii muscles noted in patients with stroke. The SG group had a better FMA score and a more satisfactory BR stage than did the SL group, and the 2 neurological scores were related to GS intensity for patients with stroke, depending on joint involvement. Discussion and Conclusion. Intensity of GS provided an affiliation with motor deficits and a promising window for poststroke recovery mechanisms.

Yeh C-Y, Tsai K-H, Chen J-J. Effects of prolonged muscle stretching with constant torque or constant angle on hypertonic calf muscles. Objective To compare the effectiveness of constant-torque prolonged muscle stretching (PMS) treatment in the inhibition of ankle hypertonia with that of constant-angle PMS treatment. Design Before-after comparison. Setting A university-affiliated teaching hospital. Participants Thirty subjects with hemiplegia and hypertonia in the calf muscles. Intervention Ankle plantarflexors were stretched using a motor-driven stretching device capable of operating in either a constant-angle or a constant-torque mode for 30 minutes of PMS treatment. Main outcome measures Clinical scales, including the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and passive range of motion (ROM), and biomechanic assessments were used to evaluate the viscoelastic components of the ankle plantarflexors before and after PMS treatment. Results Both constant-angle and constant-torque PMS treatments significantly improved the clinical scale (MAS, ROM) assessment results and reduced the viscoelastic components of the ankle joint (P Conclusions The present biomechanic assessments indicate that both PMS treatment modes reduced the viscous and elastic components of hypertonic muscles. The proposed constant-torque PMS treatment was more effective than the conventional constant-angle stretching technique.

The aims of this study are to validate the hypertonia treatment/assessment system and to quantify the immediate effect of prolonged muscle stretch (PMS) on the inhibition of ankle hypertonia in stroke patients. For PMS treatment, ankle plantarflexors were stretched with a constant torque in 25 subjects with hemiplegia and ankle plantarflexors hypertonia. Using the developed hypertonia treatment/assessment system, the effects of the PMS treatment were quantified by comparing the reactive torque measurements of the ankle joint before and after the treatment sessions in terms of elastic (elastic-inertia) (K e i ) and viscous (K v ) components. It was shown that an application of PMS for 30 min using a constant stretching force, approximately 80% of the torque measured at the maximal passive ROM dorsiflexion position, significantly reduces both components of the ankle joint torque (P < 0.05). The present results suggested that the application of PMS with a constant torque could reduce not only the elasticity of the hypertonic muscles, but also their viscosity in the stroke patients.

The objectives of this study was to develop an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth (ICF-CY) based questionnaire for children with autism, investigate the inter-rater reliability of the questionnaire and assess functional performance in children with autism.The ICF-CY based questionnaire for children with autism comprised 118 items was designed with reference the ICF-CY structure. The study protocol was divided into two parts. In the first part, the inter-rater reliability of the questionnaire was investigated using information from 26 children (aged 3-6 years) with autism and using the intra-class correlation coefficients to estimate reliability. The second part of the study aimed to assess functional performance of another independent sample (136 children, aged 3-6 years) utilizing the questionnaire. Mean scores were compared by nonparametric statistic.The inter-rater reliability for each domains of the questionnaire was found to be moderate to high (intra-class correlation coefficients ranged from 0.72 to 0.97). Children with autism had major problems in voice and speech functions. They had high dependency when executing individual activities of learning and applied knowledge. They also required maximal assistance while engaging in social activities related to conversation and major life categories.This preliminary study shows that ICF-CY based questionnaire has good reliability and can reflect the functional profile of preschool children with autism. However, further study is needed to confirm other psychometric characteristics.

People with neurological damage may develop physical impairments such as hemiplegia, and interlimb coordination deficits are common among stroke patients. Leg-cycling exercise is an alternative and symmetrical bilateral leg movement. However, stroke patients are generally reluctant to attend leg-cycling trainings. Virtual reality (VR) is a new and promising computer-based technology to promote leg-cycling training among stroke patients. A new force-detect leg-cycling training system which combined with a virtual community environment has been developed by our research team. Two healthy subjects were recruited to attend the preliminary case study. The results showed that the two healthy users could successfully operate the VR leg-cycling training system and control the direction of the virtual car in the virtual environment. In the next stage, patients with interlimb coordination deficits should be recruited in the training courses so as to verify the rehabilitative effect of the VR leg-cycling system.

The aim of this study is to determine whether short term functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted cycling training can affect the postural control of stroke patients, and whether the application of FES can enhance the effect of cycling training. 20 stroke patients were randomly assigned to the FES-cycling group (FES-CG) or the cycling group (CG). Measurements were completed before and immediately after each 20 min training sessions. The measurements included a balance test (to quantify the postural control ability), a Hoffmann's reflex/motor response ratio (H/M ratio) test and a pendulum test (to quantify the muscle tone). In the balance test, some parameters in all directions exhibited significant intervention effects between the FES-CG group and the CG group. The H/M ratios (p=.014; .005, FES-CG and CG respectively) and relaxation index (p=.005; .047, FES-CG and CG respectively) revealed significant difference between FES-CG and CG group. The change ratios of directional control in the forward direction and H/M ratio revealed significant difference (p=.022; .015) between FES-CG and CG among subjects with higher muscle tone. The stroke subjects' postural control was improved while their muscle tone was reduced after the 20 min cycling training program both with and without FES. We conclude that cycling training, with or without FES may reduce spasticity in stroke patients. The application of FES in cycling exercise was shown to be more effective in stroke patients with higher muscle tone.

The purpose of this placebo-controlled study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of the 830-nm diode laser on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).Many articles in the literature have demonstrated that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may help to alleviate various types of nerve pain, especially for CTS treatment. We placed an 830-nm laser directly above the transverse carpal ligament, which is between the pisiform and navicular bones of the tested patients, to determine the therapeutic effect of LLLT.Thirty-six patients with mild to moderate degree of CTS were randomly divided into two groups. The laser group received laser treatment (10 Hz, 50% duty cycle, 60 mW, 9.7 J/cm(2), at 830 nm), and the placebo group received sham laser treatment. Both groups received treatment for 2 wk consisting of a 10-min laser irradiation session each day, 5 d a week. The therapeutic effects were assessed on symptoms and functional changes, and with nerve conduction studies (NCS), grip strength assessment, and with a visual analogue scale (VAS), soon after treatment and at 2-wk follow-up.Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups for all assessments (p0.05). The VAS scores were significantly lower in the laser group than the placebo group after treatment and at follow-up (p0.05). After 2 wk of treatment, no significant differences were found in grip strengths or for symptoms and functional assessments (p0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in these variables at 2-wk follow-up (p0.05). Regarding the findings of NCS, there was no statistically significant difference between groups after treatment and at 2-wk follow-up.LLLT was effective in alleviating pain and symptoms, and in improving functional ability and finger and hand strength for mild and moderate CTS patients with no side effects.

Manual wheelchairs are an important mobility device for hemiplegic stroke patients, but understandably difficult to operate. A novel mobility device termed the functional electrical stimulation-assisted leg-propelled wheelchair (FES-LW) was proposed and a field test conducted to evaluate its clinical performance by comparison against a manual wheelchair (MW).A total of 20 hemiplegic patients were recruited from the National Cheng Kung University Hospital. They were instructed to successively propel the FES-LW and MW comfortably, as fast as possible, in along an oval pathway. The finish time, deviation frequencies, deviation percentage, physiological cost index (PCI), and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) of affected ankle were measured and compared.Subjects can propel the FES-LW with 40.1% less finish time (P=0.003); 23.7% lower deviation frequencies (P=0.009) and 36.7% lower deviation percentage (P=0.001); and 17.7% lower PCI (P=0.022) than the MW. In addition, the MAS of the affected ankle was noticeably reduced (P=0.002) after propelling the FES-LW.The FES-LW showed better controllability, cardiopulmonary response and positive effects on reducing spasticity versus the MW. The FES-LW is a suitable alternative to a MW for the needs of hemiplegic stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the controllability of, and physiological responses to, 2 newly designed unilaterally-propelled wheelchairs for patients with hemiplegia. DESIGN Within-subject comparison. SUBJECTS A total of 15 patients after stroke were recruited from the rehabilitation centre of Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. METHODS Two newly designed wheelchairs (an ankle-propelled wheelchair and a knee-propelled wheelchair) were compared with a commercially available 2-hand-rim propelled wheelchair. Patients propelled the 3 wheelchairs along an oval pathway. Videotapes were made for analysis. The following parameters: total propulsion time, deviation frequency, deviation percentage, physiological cost index (VO2) and rating of perceived exertion were measured and compared. RESULTS The knee-propelled wheelchair gave the best results for controllability, cardiopulmonary and perceived exertion. However, the gear ratio of this wheelchair's force transmission was fixed, and some patients felt that its propulsion was heavy when starting off. CONCLUSION The knee-propelled wheelchair showed good controllability and physiological responses for hemiplegic patients. If some details were improved, it would suitable for use by patients with hemiplegia.

Spasticity frequently obstructs the functional movements in the stroke patients. The prolonged muscle stretch (PMS) has been proven to be an effective approach to reduce excessive muscle tone. However, PMS technique has failed to provide proper treatment criteria due to the incapacity to detect the severity of spasticity and to quantify the stretch force used during PMS. This situation has caused very high variation in the treatment result. The purpose of this study is to quantify the degree of spasticity and to identify the treatment mechanisms of PMS by the designed PMS treatment and assessment system in which the force applied to the subject can be easily assigned. In addition, the same system can be also used for quantifying the time-course changes of spastic hypertonia. Then, the clinical therapist can quantify the treatment intensity and evaluate treatment effects by way of the quantitative measurement system.

The purpose of this study is to develop a quantitative measurement system to quantify the degree of spasticity and to monitor the amount of force needed during prolonged muscle stretch (PMS). The designed PMS treatment and assessment system consists of a footplate controlled by a direct-driven motor. By using this device, one can perform an evaluation on subject's ankle joint with the stretch reflex to determine the correct force needed for the PMS treatment. With this device, sinusoidal movement and ramp-and-hold stretch assessments can be performed to evaluate the treatment effects. Two major modes of PMS treatment, constant torque stretch versus constant angle stretch, are implemented. The authors' test battery includes three measurements to assess: (1) neurophysiological evaluation: WM ratios of soleus muscle; F/M ratios of tibialis anterior muscle; (2) biomechanical evaluation: the parameters of stretch reflex for soleus muscle; torque and angular position of passive stretch during ankle dorsiflexion; (3) clinical evaluation: range of motion of ankle dorsiflexion, modified Ashworth scale. These tests will be performed before, after PMS and 45 minutes after PMS to comprehend the duration of curative effect. The clinical therapist can quantify the treatment intensity and evaluate treatment effects by way of the quantitative measurement system.

People with post-stroke neurological damage may be left with physical impairments deeply affecting their daily life. Using a manual wheelchair is a common manner of locomotion for stroke patients in recovery stage. However, this kind of wheelchair is poor clinical considered and difficult for them to use. A functional electrical stimulation system with cycling system wheelchair (FCW) for hemiplegic patients was designed and proposed in this study. Hemiplegic patients can propel the FCW using both the unaffected and affected legs and can steer the wheelchair efficiently. A clinical evaluation was conducted to assess both the chair's maneuverability and user-satisfaction with the chair. A total of 12 participants were recruited to evaluate the FCW by comparing with a commercially available manual wheelchair (MW). The results inducted that the FCW was more maneuverable than the MW. In addition, participants were more satisfied with the FCW than with the MW. Therefore, we concluded that it is easier and more efficient for hemiplegic stroke patients to operate the FCW than the MW.