training-persons-with-spinal-cord-injury-to-ambulate-using-powered

Training Persons with Spinal Cord Injury to Ambulate Using a Powered Exoskeleton

Powered exoskeletons have become available for overground ambulation in persons with paralyses due to spinal cord injury (SCI) who have intact upper ...

James J. Peters VA Medical Center

To use vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) to show the magnitude and pattern of mechanical loading in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) during powered exoskeleton-assisted walking.

Vertical ground reaction force-based analysis of powered exoskeleton-assisted walking in persons with motor-complete paraplegia.

Poor preparation for elective colonoscopy is common in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). This unsatisfactory outcome is likely due to long-standing difficulty with evacuation and decreased colonic motility. Our objective was to determine the most effective preparation for elective colonoscopy applying a novel and traditional approach to bowel cleansing.

Comparison between pulsed irrigation enhanced evacuation and polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage solution for bowel preparation prior to elective colonoscopy in veterans with spinal cord injury.

Poor preparation for elective colonoscopy is exceedingly common in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). This unsatisfactory outcome is likely due to long-standing difficulty with evacuation and decreased colonic motility, which may result in inadequate responses to conventional bowel preparation regimens. We determined whether the addition of neostigmine to MoviPrep before elective colonoscopy produced a higher percentage of acceptable bowel preparations in patients with SCI.

Neostigmine Administered With MoviPrep Improves Bowel Preparation for Elective Colonoscopy in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Study.

Historically, persons with paralysis have limited options for overground ambulation. Recently, powered exoskeletons have become available, which are systems that translate the user's body movements to activate motors to move the lower limbs through a predetermined gait pattern. As part of an ongoing clinical study (NCT01454570), eight nonambulatory persons with paraplegia were trained to ambulate with a powered exoskeleton. Measurements of oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were recorded for 6 min each during each maneuver while sitting, standing, and walking. The average value of VO2 during walking (11.2 +/- 1.7 mL/kg/min) was significantly higher than those for sitting and standing (3.5 +/- 0.4 and 4.3 +/- 0.9 mL/kg/min, respectively; p < 0.001). The HR response during walking was significantly greater than that of either sitting or standing (118 +/- 21vs 70 +/- 10 and 81 +/- 12 beats per minute, respectively: p < 0.001). Persons with paraplegia were able to ambulate efficiently using the powered exoskeleton for overground ambulation, providing potential for functional gain and improved fitness.

Heart rate and oxygen demand of powered exoskeleton-assisted walking in persons with paraplegia.

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) often use a wheelchair for mobility due to paralysis. Powered exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) provides a modality for walking overground with crutches. Little is known about the EAW velocities and level of assistance (LOA) needed for these devices.

Stephen Kornfeld

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Spinal Cord Injury Service

James J. Peters VA Medical Center

Training Persons with Spinal Cord Injury to Ambulate Using a Powered Exoskeleton

Stephen Kornfeld

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James J. Peters VA Medical Center

Training Persons with Spinal Cord Injury to Ambulate Using a Powered Exoskeleton

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Spinal Cord Injury Service