Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 200.

No description available.

Until relatively recently the pedestrian has been largely ignored in the planning process. It was therefore decided to focus in this study on the pedestrian. The setting was confined to low and medium density residential areas for three reasons: (1) most pedestrian planning has been done in the central business district; (2) much of it in the past has been ad hoc but emerging analytical techniques useful for high density areas were considered beyond the scope of this study to employ; and (3) many of the solutions appropriate for high density areas are not applicable in areas of lower density. The objective was to formulate preferable alternatives and improvements to the typical pedestrian system in low and medium density residential areas from an analysis of scientific and design literature. As this suggests, the study was concerned with an aspect of the design portion of the planning process. It was proposed to formulate a number of patterns in order to arrive at the objective. Patterns are a recently evolved design method. Each pattern has four components: (1) a context or specific setting, (2) a specific problem which reoccurs in the described context, (3) a prescription describing a physical or functional relationship or design image which will prevent the problem from occurring, and (4) discussion which describes the problem more fully and presents the data--empirical, if available-- upon which the prescription is based. Hence patterns are reuseable design ideas or images; from them actual designs are generated for use in any situation with the same context. The use of patterns had important implications for this study, their formulation constituted the basic methodology, and the patterns formulated were the product or results. The major groups of pedestrians--pre-school and school children, housewives and retired persons--were isolated as a result of two surveys, and major pedestrian planning objectives--convenience, activities and comfort--were defined in order to have a concise basis from which to formulate the patterns. Each of the patterns formulated was of a broad, generic nature applicable to all user groups, although concerned with only one or two objectives. As a test of their validity the patterns were applied to two residential areas in metropolitan Vancouver. While some of the patterns were able to be applied to the built environment, it was considered that the inability to apply all of them did not render them invalid for reasons inherent in the application process. It was concluded that the empirical data used in the formulation of the patterns together with the application of the patterns to the existing environment gave strong indications that the objectives had been met. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Background: Gait impairments and postural deficits are very common in people with Parkinson Disease (PD), and also highly associated with fall risk and functional decline. Some evidence showed that in older adults, Nordic Walking (NW) could slow the progression of some gait impairments and increasing stride length and gait speed. Moreover, previous studies suggested that gait disturbances in PD are associated with less automatic gait performances and therefore gait requires more attention, as it is essential for regulation of postural balance. Further, research of this fact has very minimally been examined in PD population. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Nordic walking can improve gait pattern in individual with PD after a 6-week training program, as well as determine the effect of performing a cognitive task while walking with and without the poles on gait characteristics. Methods: Gait spatial temporal and kinetics data was collected with and without poles in 12 adults with PD (age: 61.58±11.7 years; 9 male, 3 female; Hoehn and Yahr scale 1-3 stage; UPDRS III average: 11; the year of diagnosis: 6.72 years). Participants performed six 5m walking trials; 3 with poles and 3 without after 6-week training. Participants also performed four 90 seconds walking trials on a 25m pathway in four different conditions: NP (no poles) and no cognitive task, NW (Nordic walking) and no cognitive task, NP and a cognitive task, NW and a cognitive task. For this latter part of the experiment, gait characteristics and trunk kinematics were quantified by using a 6 inertial sensor accelerometry system (APDM, Oregon, USA). As for the 5m tasks, gait spatial temporal and kinetics were collected with an eight cameras 3-dimensional motion capture system (Vicon, Oxford, UK) and 2 force platforms (Kistler, Winterthur, Switzerland). All variables were assessed using paired t-test to compare NW to conventional walking and two-way ANOVA to compare cognitive and pole conditions. Results: When comparing NW to NP, the results showed significantly longer stride length, and larger single support time. The data also showed larger knee power generation during mid-stance as well as decreased power absorption at the knee during swing. Moreover, when assessing the effect of performing a cognitive task on gait, gait speed and cadence in both normal walking and Nordic pole walking was significant smaller when performing the cognitive task. The trunk frontal range of motion (ROM) and velocity were smaller compared NW to NP. When adding cognitive tasks, trunk frontal ROM and velocity were significantly smaller. Conclusions: Based on the results, 16 self-directed sessions of NW can help improve certain gait spatial-temporal characteristics as well as some aspect of the gait pattern kinetics, especially at the knee. Moreover it seems that a 16 sessions (45mintues per session) or even longer practice period is necessary for NW beginner, in order to gain perfect technique and restore gait to a more normal pattern than novice.

Aging is accompanied by a deterioration of physical abilities. For some this limits their mobility and thus their quality of life. Exoskeletons are a class of walking assist device that help reduce the effort required to walk. Currently, powered exoskeletons suffer from short battery life and thus limited usefulness. This thesis presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a novel unpowered ankle exoskeleton to assist normal walking over long distances. The design incorporates a Pneumatic Artificial Muscle (PAM) inflated and used as a passive air spring. To predict the behaviour of the PAM in this distinct application, a distinct dynamic model was developed to include the biaxial stress in the bladder as well as a polytropic gas assumption. Experimental testing was used to validate the model and indicated that the addition of the bladder stress enhanced the performance of the force prediction at low pressure but had negligible impact on the model at higher pressures. The experimental testing also showed that the temperature of the gas inside the PAM varies very slightly during passive elongation cycles, thus, validating an isothermal assumption. Once fabricated, the exoskeleton was tested in human walking trials. Electromyography results showed that the exoskeleton was able to reduced the muscular activation activation of the Soleus muscle, however the results also included a significant reduction in the angular range of motion of the ankle. This is thought to be attributed to an insufficient acclimatization period during the human testing. Furthermore, due to an improper fit of the exoskeleton, the clutch mechanism did not operate as designed, leading to a reduced range of motion of the ankle. The device demonstrated its ability to reduce the effort of the calf muscles during walking, however, further refinements of the device fitting and clutch mechanism are required.

No description available.

No description available.

As the population ages, the need for intelligent solutions to mobility concerns increases. Many existing products succeed in targeting the functional aspects of use but fail to address critical psychological and aesthetic elements in the design process. This thesis asks the question: can a walking device address concerns of dignity, beauty, and functionality? / Master of Science

No description available.

No description available.