Gait rehabilitation machines based on programmable footplates

Abstract

Background: Gait restoration is an integral part of rehabilitation of brain lesioned patients. Modern concepts favour a task-specific repetitive approach, i.e. who wants to regain walking has to walk, while tone-inhibiting and gait preparatory manoeuvres had dominated therapy before. Following the first mobilization out of the bed, the wheelchair-bound patient should have the possibility to practise complex gait cycles as soon as possible. Steps in this direction were treadmill training with partial body weight support and most recently gait machines enabling the repetitive training of even surface gait and even of stair climbing.

Evaluation of the autonomic response in healthy subjects during treadmill training with assistance of a robot-driven gait orthosis

“…Its usefulness in the recovery of weight-bearing capacity, walking speed and endurance has been demonstrated. Several studies focused on the evaluation and optimization of leg kinematic trajectories, muscle activation and gait pattern while walking in the device [14][15][16], on the effects of gait training in stroke rehabilitation [17][18][19] and energy expenditure during therapy [20]. To our knowledge our study is the first to aim at evaluating cardiac autonomic nervous system activity changes elicited during the treadmill rehabilitation protocol.…”

Effects of Augmented Reality with Functional Electric Stimulation on Muscle Strength, Balance and Gait of Stroke Patients

“…Based on this, gait training, utilizing the weight support instrument for patients whose balancing and gait ability have been compromised because of a hemiplegic gait, has been suggested 11) . Weight-supported treadmill gait training is effective at controlling the motor recovery of the lower extremity.…”

Intervenção fisioterapêutica com suporte parcial de peso em indivíduos pós-ave: revisão sistemática

“…É uma órtese de marcha acionada eletricamente, composta por um suporte para o quadril e duas órteses para perna criada com o objetivo de reduzir a carga de trabalho e melhorar o treino em esteira para terapeutas e pacientes, originalmente desenvolvido para pacientes com lesão de medula espinhal, oferece um ambiente mais favorável, no qual os pacientes severamente afetados possam praticar movimento de marcha a uma velocidade quase normal e esse treino pode se realizado regularmente por um longo período. Vários estudos documentaram sua eficácia (HESSE, 2006;KREWER et al, 2007;SCHMIDT et al, 2007). É importante ressaltar que o uso do treino em esteira com SPP tem contraindicações relativas: fatores de risco para cardiopatias, história recente de trombose venosa profunda (TVP) e contraturas articulares ou artroses (HESSE et al, 2003).…”