A therapist helping hand for walker-assisted gait rehabilitation: A pre-clinical assessment

Sergio D.M. Sierra, Mario F. Jimenez, Marcela C. Munera, Teodiano Bastos, Anselmo Frizera-Neto, Carlos A. Cifuentes

Research output: Chapter in Book/ReportConference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Smart Walkers are robotic devices commonly used to improve physical stability and sensory support for people with lower limb weakness or cognitive impairments. Even though such devices offer continuous monitoring during physical rehabilitation, providing a tool to empower therapists might reduce their efforts and increase patient's safety during gait therapies. The implementation of remote-operation strategies enable therapy managers to remote control and assess the smart walker and user information. In this context, this paper presents a new strategy to control and perceive a walker-assisted gait therapy, by means of a haptic joystick with three operational modes. A set of path following tasks were implemented to validate the operational modes. The kinematic estimation error was calculated, and it was found a decrease in the error, when feedback modes were used. Likewise, results from an usability and acceptance questionnaire show better participant's understating of visual feedback mode, and higher effort perception under haptic feedback mode. This interaction strategy represents a potential joystick application as a safety and control interface in walker-assisted gait.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication4th IEEE Colombian Conference on Automatic Control
Subtitle of host publicationAutomatic Control as Key Support of Industrial Productivity, CCAC 2019 - Proceedings
EditorsJose Garcia-Tirado, Diego Munoz-Durango, Hernan Alvarez, Hector Botero-Castro
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781538669624
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2019
Externally publishedYes
Event4th IEEE Colombian Conference on Automatic Control, CCAC 2019 - Medellin, Colombia
Duration: Oct 15 2019Oct 18 2019

Publication series

Name4th IEEE Colombian Conference on Automatic Control: Automatic Control as Key Support of Industrial Productivity, CCAC 2019 - Proceedings

Conference

Conference4th IEEE Colombian Conference on Automatic Control, CCAC 2019
Country/TerritoryColombia
CityMedellin
Period10/15/1910/18/19

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
  • Control and Optimization

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