196,016 research outputs found

    Preface

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    Comparison of an inertial measurement unit system and baropodometric platform for measuring spatiotemporal parameters and walking speed in healthy adults

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    Spatiotemporal parameters of walking are used to identify gait impairments and provide a tailored therapy program. Baropodometric platforms are not often used for measuring spatiotemporal parameters and walking speed and it is required to determine accuracy. The aim of this study was to compare FreeMed® Platform gait outcomes with a validated inertial measurement unit. There were 40 healthy adults without walking impairments enrolled. Each subject walked along a 15-m walkway at self and slow self-selected speed wearing an inertial measurement unit on the FreeMed® Platform. Stride length and time, right and left stance, swing time, and walking speed were recorded. Walking speed, stride length, and step time showed a very high level of agreement at slow walking speed and a high and moderate level of agreement at normal walking speed. FreeMed® Platform is useful to assess gait outcomes and could improve the exercise prescription

    Lower-Limb Exoskeletons for Gait Training in Parkinson’s Disease: The State of the Art and Future Perspectives

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    Gait dysfunction (GD) is a common impairment of Parkinson's disease (PD), which negatively impacts patients' quality of life. Among the most recent rehabilitation technologies, a lower-limb powered exoskeleton (LLEXO) arises as a useful instrument for gait training in several neurological conditions, including PD. However, some questions relating to methods of use, achievable results, and usefulness compared to traditional rehabilitation methodologies still require clear answers. Therefore, in this review, we aim to summarise and analyse all the studies that have applied an LLEXO to train gait in PD patients. Literature research on PubMed and Scopus retrieved five articles, comprising 46 PD participants stable on medications (age: 71.7 +/- 3.7 years, 24 males, Hoehn and Yahr: 2.1 +/- 0.6). Compared to traditional rehabilitation, low-profile lower-limb exoskeleton (lp-LLEXO) training brought major improvements towards walking capacity and gait speed, while there are no clear major benefits regarding the dual-task gait cost index and freezing of gait symptoms. Importantly, the results suggest that lp-LLEXO training is more beneficial for patients with an intermediate-to-severe level of disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr > 2.5). This review could provide a novel framework for implementing LLEXO in clinical practise, highlighting its benefits and limitations towards gait training

    Surface Engineering of Magnesium Alloys for the Next Generation of Biodegradable Device

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    Although the biocompatibility and good mechanical properties make the magnesium and its alloys excellent candidates for biomedical applications, the high corrosion rate, involving hydrogen release and the alkalization of the physiological environment, limit their clinical use. However, this constrain could be exploited for the realization of biodegradable devices. In this regard, it is necessary to ensure a degradation rate comparable to the rate of growth of the hosting tissues, avoiding side effects, premature failures, and adverse reactions. The surface engineering approaches which involve the use of a coating made of single or multiple layers represent a possible method to tailor the deterioration rate. The poor adhesion strength between layers could be an important drawback of this approach. In the present research, a multilayer coating composed of an oxide layer, a bio-inspired polydopamine (PDA)-based one and a biodegradable polymer film, made of polylactic acid (PLA) has been realized on magnesium alloys substrates. The first layer was obtained by a plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment to increase the corrosion resistance. Then, the polydopamine layer has been applied by the dip-coating method to improve the adhesion between the oxide layer and the polylactic acid film. Each layer and their combinations were characterized by using morphological examinations, and electrochemical test by means of potentiodynamic polarization (PD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) methods. The use of a multilayer coating has demonstrated to be a promising strategy to control the degradation rate of the magnesium alloys to produce biodegradable device
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