Effect of 4-weeks exercise program using wearable hip-assist robot (EX1) in older adults: one group pre- and post- test.

BACKGROUND: Older adults have muscle loss and are at risk of falling. Recently, research in the healthcare field has been actively conducted, and Samsung Electronics has developed EX1, a hip joint assisted robot for exercise. This study aimed to verify the effect of a 4-week combined exercise program applying EX1 on older adults. METHODS: This study design was an evaluator-blinded, pre- and post-test. A total of 21 older adults performed an exercise program consisting of walking and fitness wearing EX1 for 50 min per session, 3 days a week during the 4-week exercise period. For comparison before and after participating in the exercise program, the spatio-temporal parameters, pelvic movement were analyzed by G-Walk, functional outcomes were evaluated by TUG, muscle power were evaluated by RUSI, and waist-hip ratio were analyzed by Inbody. All data were analyzed before and after exercise using paired t-test, and the statistical significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: In spatio-temporal parameters, stride length showed statistically significant improvements after exercise with EX1 (P < 0.01). Also, propulsion showed statistically significant improvements after exercise with EX1 (P < 0.01) Regarding changes of the gait posture, there was a statistically significant improvement in pelvic movement (P < 0.05). In the functional evaluation, the time required was statistically significantly reduced in the timed up and go test (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that a 4-week exercise program with EX1 was effective in improving the functional gait of the elderly. However, because the participants were 21, it is difficult to generalize the results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0007367. Registered 08/06/2022.

Effects of pelvic range of motion and lower limb muscle activation pattern on over-ground and treadmill walking at the identical speed in healthy adults.

[Purpose] Many studies have compared over-ground and treadmill walking, but the biomechanical relationship between the two gait modes is unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in pelvic range of motion and lower limb muscles activity during over-ground and treadmill walking in healthy adults. Moreover, we aimed to analyze differences according to gender. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-three healthy adults (9 men, 14 women) between 25 and 35 years of age walked at the identical speed for 30 seconds each in two difference gait modes. The pelvic range of motion were obtained by using three-axis accelerometer and lower limb muscle activation data were obtained by using wireless surface EMG. [Results] The results showed that pelvic obliquity showed a greater angular range of women than men, and the pelvic rotation decreased more in treadmill walking than over-ground walking. In the muscles activity, vastus lateralis and tibialis anterior increased, and gastrocnemius medialis decreased in treadmill walking than over-ground walking. [Conclusion] We conclude that treadmill walking reduces the range of motion of the pelvic and increases lower limb muscles activity therefore, when using treadmill for the purpose of rehabilitation at the clinic, consider this difference.

Comparison of accelerometer-based and treadmill-based analysis systems for measuring gait parameters in healthy adults.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the correlation between accelerometer-based and treadmill-based analysis systems for measuring gait parameters during comfortable walking in healthy young adults. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-three healthy adults participated in this study. Gait parameters were measured with simultaneous use of accelerometer-based and treadmill-based gait analysis systems, while participants walked for 30 s. [Results] There was a highly-significant correlation between the two systems with respect to cadence and velocity. The cadence, speed, and stride measured with the accelerometer system were significantly and highly correlated with the cadence, velocity, and number of steps measured with the treadmill-based system. The gait cycle duration measured with the accelerometer system was significantly and highly correlated with the step time and stride time measured with the treadmill-based gait system. [Conclusion] Gait analysis using an accelerometer system is a valid method for assessment of the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in a clinical setting.

Is robot-assisted therapy effective in upper extremity recovery in early stage stroke? -a systematic literature review.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the effects of robot-assisted therapy on the upper extremity in acute and subacute stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The papers retrieved were evaluated based on the following inclusion criteria: 1) design: randomized controlled trials; 2) population: stroke patients 3) intervention: robot-assisted therapy; and 4) year of publication: May 2012 to April 2016. Databased searched were: EMBASE, PubMed and COCHRAN databases. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. [Results] Of the 637 articles searched, six studies were included in this systematic review. The PEDro scores range from 7 to 9 points. [Conclusion] This review confirmed that the robot-assisted therapy with three-dimensional movement and a high degree of freedom had positive effects on the recovery of upper extremity motor function in patients with early-stage stroke. We think that the robot-assisted therapy could be used to improve upper extremity function for early stage stroke patients in clinical setting.

Intra- and inter-rater reliabilities for novel muscle thickness assessment during Co-contraction with dual-rehabilitative ultrasound imaging.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of dual-rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (D-RUSI) for the simultaneous measurement of the thickness of the tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GCM) muscles in healthy young adults. DESIGN: A single-group repeated-measures reliability study. SETTING: Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six healthy participants (23 males; age = 26.36 ±â€¯5.57 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: D-RUSI was used for the simultaneous measurement of the muscle thickness of the TA and GCM at rest and during maximum voluntary contraction. Two examiners acquired data from all participants during three separate testing sessions. RESULTS: In the results for the intra-examiner reliability of the TA and GCM muscle thickness for two sessions, all ICC values (95% CI) were good to very good, ranging from 0.72 to 0.95 (SEM 0.01-0.05 mm, MDC 0.02-0.13 mm, respectively). In the results for the inter-examiner reliability of the TA and GCM muscle thickness for three sessions, all ICC values (95% CI) were good to very good, ranging from 0.78 to 0.97 (SEM 0.01-0.10 mm, MDC 0.02-0.15 mm, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the potential usefulness of D-RUSI measurements for making management decisions related to muscle function, including muscle co-contraction.