Passive Exoskeletons For Assisting Limb Movement

Main Category: Bones / Orthopedics
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Multiple Sclerosis
Article Date: 21 Nov 2006 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

We discuss state-of-the-art passive devices for enhancing upper- and lower-limb movement in people with neuromuscular disabilities. Special emphasis is placed on a passive functional upper-limb orthosis called the Wilmington Robotic Exoskeleton (WREX).

It is exoskeletal, has two links and four degrees of freedom, and uses linear elastic elements to balance the effects of gravity in three dimensions. Results show that the WREX benefited a small number of children with arm weakness and allowed them to eat independently.

The WREX can be used by people with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease). WREX is also a potential low-cost therapy tool for stroke subjects.

Passive exoskeletons for assisting limb movement, pg. 583 (PDF)

About the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development (JRRD

JRRD has been a leading research journal in the field of rehabilitation medicine and technology for more than 40 years. JRRD, a peer-reviewed, scientifically indexed journal, publishes original research papers, review articles, as well as clinical and technical commentary from U.S. and international researchers on all rehabilitation research disciplines. JRRD's mission is to responsibly evaluate and disseminate scientific research findings impacting the rehabilitative healthcare community.

Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development (JRRD)
Department of Veterans Affairs
103 South Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202
www.vard.org/jour/jourindx.html

• Additional
• References
• Citations