ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.
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- All Subjects: Orthotics
- Creators: Sugar, Thomas
Description
This dissertation aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and drawbacks of promising fall prevention strategies in individuals with stroke by rigorously analyzing the biomechanics of laboratory falls and compensatory movements required to prevent a fall. Ankle-foot-orthoses (AFOs) and functional electrical stimulators (FESs) are commonly prescribed to treat foot drop. Despite well-established positive impacts of AFOs and FES devices on balance and gait, AFO and FES users fall at a high rate. In chapter 2 (as a preliminary study), solely mechanical impacts of a semi-rigid AFO on the compensatory stepping response of young healthy individuals following trip-like treadmill perturbations were evaluated. It was found that a semi-rigid AFO on the stepping leg diminished the propulsive impulse of the compensatory step which led to decreased trunk movement control, shorter step length, and reduced center of mass (COM) stability. These results highlight the critical role of plantarflexors in generating an effective compensatory stepping response. In chapter 3, the underlying biomechanical mechanisms leading to high fall risk in long-term AFO and FES users with chronic stroke were studied. It was found that AFO and FES users fall more than Non-users because they have a more impaired lower limb that is not fully addressed by AFO/FES, therefore leading to a more impaired compensatory stepping response characterized by increased inability to generate a compensatory step with paretic leg and decreased trunk movement control. An ideal future AFO that provides dorsiflexion assistance during the swing phase and plantarflexion assistance during the push-off phase of gait is suggested to enhance the compensatory stepping response and reduce more falls. In chapter 4, the effects of a single-session trip-specific training on the compensatory stepping response of individuals with stroke were evaluated. Trunk movement control was improved after a single session of training suggesting that this type of training is a viable option to enhance compensatory stepping response and reduce falls in individuals with stroke. Finally, a future powered AFO with plantarflexion assistance complemented by a trip-specific training program is suggested to enhance the compensatory stepping response and decrease falls in individuals with stroke.
ContributorsNevisipour, Masood (Author) / Honeycutt, Claire (Thesis advisor) / Sugar, Thomas (Thesis advisor) / Artemiadis, Panagiotis (Committee member) / Abbas, James (Committee member) / Lee, Hyunglae (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
This work endeavors to lay a solid foundation for the exploration and the considerations of exoskeletons, exosuits, and medical devices concerning proprioceptive feedback. This investigation is situated at the nexus of engineering, neuroscience, and rehabilitation medicine, striving to cultivate a holistic understanding of how mechanical augmentation, interfaced synergistically with human proprioception, can foster enhanced mobility and safety. This is especially pertinent for individuals with compromised motor functions.British Neurologist Oliver Wolf Sacks in 1985 published “The Man who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” a series of his most memorable neurological case describing the brain's strangest pathways. One of these cases is “The Disembodied Lady”, Christina a 27-year-old woman that lost entirely the sense of proprioception due to polyneuropathy. This caused her to not be able to control her body, and she declares that “I feel the wind on my arms and face, and then I know, faintly, I have arms and a face. It’s not the real thing, but it’s something—it lifts this horrible, dead veil for a while. ” Finally, she was able to control her body using vision alone. Dr. Sacks introduced, for the first time, the importance of proprioception, as the sense of position of body parts relative to other parts of the body, to western culture. This document’s mission is to identify unexplored concepts in the literature regarding exoskeletons, wearables and assistive technology and a user’s proprioception, embodiment and utilization when wearing devices. Dr. Philipp Beckerle suggests the need to research the connections between wearable hardware and human sense of proprioception. He also emphasizes the need for functional assessment protocols for wearables devices and the role of embodiment. He criticizes the current commercially available upper-limb prostheses since they only restore limited functions and therefore impede embodiment.
This document’s goal is to identify operative solutions through the adaptation of existing technologies and to use effective solutions to improve the quality of life of people suffering from pathologies or traumatic injuries.
ContributorsVignola, Claudio (Author) / Sugar, Thomas (Thesis advisor) / Redkar, Sangram (Committee member) / McDaniels, Troy (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023