The theses is focused on diabetic alert dogs, which create impact on compensation of diabetes mellitus. Differences in topic's between Czech republic and USA is compared based on questionnaire. Part of diploma thesis is also short questionnaire dedicated for members of Czech republic parliament. The aim of thesis is to extend public knowledge about diabetic alert dogs in Czech republic. To compare knowledges about this topic between Czech republic and USA and to compare number of owners of diabetic alert dogs in Czech republic and USA. Analysis was done by using selected method of questionnaire targeting this topic. Questions were related to people suffering from diabetes mellitus in Czech republic and USA. Second anonymous questionnaire was prepare for members of Czech parliament and their knowledges about this topic. Structualized interwievs with people suffering from diabetes were conducted only for additional information. Key words signal alert dogs, diabetes mellitus, assistance dogs, assistive device

Individuals with disabilities yearn for an increased level of independence, seeking to supplement their missing function(s) and to carry on with their lives with minimal or no assistance from another person. A review of the existing assistive-care products has revealed that many of the defects in these devices, particularly in wheelchair-mounted robots, can be alleviated. Surveys have also identified tasks that users would like to perform by themselves, but are constrained from doing so by using currently available devices. An attempt has been made here to try to resolve these issues by developing a prototype of a marsupial robot that can dock into the powered wheelchair that is used for manipulation purposes. The primary function of this system is to assist the user in his/her daily tasks such as pick-up small objects and place them as per the user's commands, push to open/close doors and remove obstacles from the wheelchair path. It is with the objective of providing an enhanced quality of life to a person with impairment(s) that a proposal for a simple, safe and inexpensive approach to assist him/her in performing an activity is made here.

Many individuals with impaired vision experience a decreased quality of life. Quality of life is defined as "the degree to which an individual enjoys the important possibilities of their life. " Vision rehabilitation outcomes primarily focus on the functional impacts of interventions, with less attention being paid to any associated psychosocial impacts. This study examines the relationship between measures of visual function status and psychosocial status in individuals acquiring low vision assistive devices for the first time. One hundred and twenty subjects were evaluated after purchasing their first low vision device from a University-based low vision clinic. The measures used were the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25) and the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scales (PIADS). The NEI-VFQ 25 measures the status of visual function, while PIADS is a device impact measure, which explores the psychosocial impact of devices on three domains: competence, adaptability, and self-esteem. This study determines the strength of association between these two measures at initial and follow-up administrations, and between each subsequent measure as a result of the time interval between administrations, in addition to assessing whether or not a change in stability for the measures occurred over time. Modest strengths of associations were anticipated and the short time interval was not expected to be a factor in change in stability of the measures. The expectation was that subjective reports of functional changes should have a moderate correlation with psychosocial impact.

The project has aimed to develop a new kind of back assistive device to reduce the risk of low back problems, mainly focused to industries and workplaces where manual handling are frequently occurring. The idea for the project was introduced in spring 2010, when Martin Paulsen performed internship at Bioservo Technologies AB located in Stockholm. Bioservo Technologies had developed a force-enhancing glove, which responds to the user's movements and produces an assisting grip force, similar to the user´s own muscles. During the training period Martin Paulsen began to consider other features of the technology, which led to this thesis. This project is owned by Bioservo Technologies, conducted by Herbert Eriksson and Martin Paulsen from the Biomechanical program at Halmstad University. The aim has been to develop an idea for a future product for Bioservo Technologies. The goal of the product that has been to reduce the risk of low back problems, mainly the cases of low back pain associated with manual handling at workplaces. In order to find a solution to such complex problems as low back pain, the project has started with three pilot studies. • Literature Study: As this project´s aim has not been to produce a prototype for testing and validation, the project has instead rested heavily on a literature study. The focus of this study was to educate Herbert Eriksson and Martin Paulsen of the problem and the solutions available on the market today. The pilot study can be found as Attachent A: "A literature study about the problems of low back pain and the solutions of today." • Interviews: As the project has been conducted confidentially, no steering group could participate in the project. However, it was important to let the professions that currently work with back problems affect the project, and let their experience and knowledge influence the project. Interviews was instead introduced, and allowed experts to give valuable insight with their unique knowledge on the subject. The pilot study can be found as Appendix B: "Interviews of experts of interest concerning low back pain." • Motion Capture: A measurement of kinematic data was conducted to capture the spine motion for further analysis in Matlab, and to explore the feet´s load patterns while manually lifting. The pilot study can be found as Appendix C: "A Study of Healthy adult's foot pressure pattern in a symmetrical lifting task." These three pilot studies together form a platform for the development of the product´s function and theoretical content. While design and material has been left open, the product description focuses on the product's functional design, mechanics and electronics. In order to validate the product's mechanics, has an Appendix named Appendix D: "Calculations of how the angle alpha depends on the variable theta and the dimensions of the external spine" been added as an Appendix. / Projektet har syftat till att utveckla ett nytt sorts rygghjälpmedel för att reducera risken för ländryggsproblem, främst åt industrier och arbetsplatser där manuella lyft är frekvent förekommande. Idéen till projektet föddes redan våren 2010, då Martin Paulsen praktiserade hos Bioservo Technologies AB i Stockholm. Bioservo Technologies AB hade utvecklat en kraftförstärkande handske, som svarar på användarens rörelser och producerar en assisternade kraftutveckling, lik den egna muskelaturen. Under praktikperioden började Martin Paulsen att fundera på andra funktioner för tekniken, vilket ledde till detta examensarbete. Detta projekt är ägt av Bioservo Technologies AB, utfört av Herbert Eriksson och Martin Paulsen från Biomekanikprogrammet på Högskolan i Halmstad. Syftet har varit att utveckla en idé för en framtida produkt åt Bioservo Technologies AB. Målet med produkten som har utvecklats är att reducera risken för ländryggsproblem, främst de fall av ländryggproblem som är associerat med manuella lyft på arbetsplatser. För att finna en lösning på ett sådant komplex problem som ländryggsproblem, har projektet inledds med tre pilotstudier. • Litteraturstudie: Då projektet inte har syftat till att producera en prototyp för testning och validering, har projektet istället fått vila tungt på en litteraturstudie. Fokus med litteraturstudien var att utbilda Herbert Eriksson och Martin Paulsen om problemet, och vilka lösningar som finns på marknaden idag. Pilotstudien står att finna som Appendix A: ”A literature study about the problems of low back pain and the solutions of today”. • Intervjuer: Då projektet har bedrivits konfidentiellt har ingen styrgrupp kunnat delta i projektet. Det var dock viktigt att låta de arbetsgrupper som idag arbetar med just ryggproblem påverka projektet, och låta deras erfarenheter och kunskaper adapteras i projektet. Med anledning av detta genomfördes istället intervjuer och samtal med tre personer, som har givits tillåtelse att belysa projektet med sina unika kunskaper inom ämnet. Pilotstudien står att finna som Appendix B: “Interviews of experts of interest concerning lowback pain”. • Motion Capture: En mätning av kinematisk data genomfördes för att fånga ryggens rörelse för vidare analys i Matlab, samt för att utforska fötternas belastningsmönster vid manuella lyft. Pilotstudien står att finna som Appendix C: “A study of healthy adult's foot pressure pattern in a symmetrical lifting task”. Dessa tre pilotstudier skapade gemensamt en platå för att utveckla produkten teoretiska funktion och innehåll. Då designval och materialval har lämnats öppna har produktbeskrivningen fokuserats på produktensfunktionella utformning, mekanik och elektronik. För att validera produktens mekanik, har en bilagavid namn Appendix D: ”Calculations of how the angle alpha depends on the variable theta and the dimensions of the external spine” framställts.

Many individuals with impaired vision experience a decreased quality of life. Quality of life is defined as "the degree to which an individual enjoys the important possibilities of their life. " Vision rehabilitation outcomes primarily focus on the functional impacts of interventions, with less attention being paid to any associated psychosocial impacts. This study examines the relationship between measures of visual function status and psychosocial status in individuals acquiring low vision assistive devices for the first time. One hundred and twenty subjects were evaluated after purchasing their first low vision device from a University-based low vision clinic. The measures used were the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ 25) and the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scales (PIADS). The NEI-VFQ 25 measures the status of visual function, while PIADS is a device impact measure, which explores the psychosocial impact of devices on three domains: competence, adaptability, and self-esteem. This study determines the strength of association between these two measures at initial and follow-up administrations, and between each subsequent measure as a result of the time interval between administrations, in addition to assessing whether or not a change in stability for the measures occurred over time. Modest strengths of associations were anticipated and the short time interval was not expected to be a factor in change in stability of the measures. The expectation was that subjective reports of functional changes should have a moderate correlation with psychosocial impact.

Objective: Lifting-seat devices are designed to raise the seat height to reduce biomechanical and neuromuscular demands of a sit-to-stand (STS). The goal of this thesis was to understand how seat height and lifting-seat devices with different mechanisms affect trunk, hip, and knee biomechanics and neuromuscular activity of surrounding muscles, and determine whether the effects are altered by age. Four conditions were tested; 1) no device normal seat height (ND-normal), 2) Seat Assist™ (SA), 3) Power Seat™ (PS), 4) no device raised height (ND-raised). Using a cross-sectional design, two objectives were completed. Objective one compared ND-normal and ND-raised to determine the effects of seat height. Objective two compared ND-raised, PS, SA to determine the effects of lifting-seats. Design: 10 healthy older and 10 healthy younger adults performed five trials of each STS condition. Bilateral lower limb and trunk three-dimensional motion, ground reaction forces and electromyography (EMG) from five muscles were collected.

The purpose of this research is twofold: 1) to apply a user-centred approach to examine the usability and acceptability of an on-body ergonomic aid called the Personal Lift Assistive Device (PLAD) in a variety of industrial work environments and 2) to utilize subjective user acceptability data on discomfort, pain and overall PLAD assessment by participants to identify design features that need improvement in the next PLAD iteration. Case studies took place in four different industrial work environments: two distribution centre environments, one retail store environment and one automotive assembly plant environment. These environments were selected to represent different industrial work environments. In total, 20 industrial workers were selected to wear the PLAD and provide their feedback. Results were obtained using subjective questionnaires through verbal and written comments as well as through direct observation of the participants. Three major design changes occurred to the original PLAD iteration tested at the first industrial location. These included: 1) using different stiffness levels of springs for different sizes of individuals in an attempt to decrease discomfort and optimize the effectiveness of the PLAD, 2) an increase in pelvic spacer size and surface area contacting the user’s body to reduce discomfort and 3) modification to the shoulder harness including; shape, dimensions and amount of cushioning to reduce discomfort. Currently, three major design changes were identified and still need to be addressed. These include: 1) reduction of thermal discomfort caused by wearing the PLAD, 2) validation of selecting the appropriate spring stiffness for small, medium and large users of the PLAD (male and female) under various working postures and 3) simplification of the donning and doffing process. Additionally, a simple PLAD spring stiffness sizing chart was created to aid potential manufacturers of the PLAD to select the appropriate spring stiffness for various users of the PLAD. This sizing chart was designed to maintain an average lumbar moment reduction of 15%, while taking discomfort of the shoulders caused by the spring stiffness and overall cost into consideration. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-28 09:03:01.463

Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to generate further knowledge about prosthetic and orthotic services in developing countries. In particular, the thesis focused on patient mobility and satisfaction with prosthetic and orthotic devices, satisfaction with service delivery, and the views of staff regarding clinical practice and education. Methods: Questionnaires, including QUEST 2.0, were used to collect self-reported data from 83 patients in Malawi and 139 patients in Sierra Leone. In addition, 15 prosthetic/orthotic technicians in Sierra Leone and 15 prosthetists/orthotists in Pakistan were interviewed. Results: The majority of patients used their prosthetic or orthotic devices (90% in Malawi, and 86% in Sierra Leone), but half of the assistive devices in use needed repair. Approximately one third of patients reported pain when using their assistive device (40% in Malawi and 34% in Sierra Leone). Patients had difficulties, or could not walk at all, with their prosthetic and/or orthotic device in the following situations; uneven ground (41% in Malawi and 65% in Sierra Leone), up and down hills (78% in Malawi and 75% in Sierra Leone), on stairs (60% in Malawi and 66% in Sierra Leone). Patients were quite satisfied or very satisfied with their assistive device (mean 3.9 in Malawi and 3.7 in Sierra Leone out of 5) and the services provided (mean 4.4 in Malawi and 3.7 in Sierra Leone out of 5), (p<0.001), but reported many problems (418 comments made in Malawi and 886 in Sierra Leone). About half of the patients did not, or sometimes did not, have the ability to access services (71% in Malawi and 40% in Sierra Leone). In relation to mobility and service delivery, orthotic patients and patients using above-knee assistive devices in Malawi and Sierra Leone had the poorest results. In Sierra Leone, women had poorer results than men. The general condition of devices and the ability to walk on uneven ground and on stairs were associated with both satisfaction of assistive devices and service received. Professionals’ views of service delivery and related education resulted in four themes common to Sierra Leone and Pakistan: 1) Low awareness and prioritising of prosthetic and orthotic services; 2) Difficulty managing specific pathological conditions and problems with materials; 3) The need for further education and desire for professional development; 4) Desire for improvements in prosthetic and orthotic education. A further two themes were unique to Sierra Leone; 1) People with disabilities have low social status; 2) Limited access to prosthetic and orthotic services. Conclusion: High levels of satisfaction and mobility while using assistive devices were reported in Malawi and Sierra Leone, although patients experienced pain and difficulties when walking on challenging surfaces. Limitations to the effectiveness of assistive devices, poor comfort, and limited access to follow-up services and repairs were issues that needed to be addressed. Educating prosthetic and orthotic staff to a higher level was considered necessary in Sierra Leone. In Pakistan, prosthetic and orthotic education could be improved by modifying programme content, improving teachers’ knowledge, improving access to information, and addressing issues of gender equality.

Aging in humans is often associated with reduced muscle strength and difficulty in elevating the arm and sustaining it at a certain position. The aim of this master thesis is to propose a number of technical solutions integrated into a complete electronic system which can be used to support the user's muscle capacity and partially resist gravitational load. An electronic system consisting of sensors, a control unit and an actuator has been developed. The system is able to detect the user's motion intention based on an angle detection algorithm and perform kinematic control over the user's arm by adjusting the level of support at different degrees of elevation. A force control algorithm has been developed for controlling the actuating mechanism, providing the user with a natural and intuitive support during arm elevation. The implemented system is a first step towards the development of a medical assistive device for the elderly or patients with reduced muscle strength allowing them to independently perform a number of personal activities of daily life where active participation of the upper limb is required.

Of the 795,000 people that suffer a stroke in the United States every year, 65% experience hemiparesis. Foot drop is a common gait pathology in people with lower-limb paresis and is often caused by neuropathy of the peroneal nerve that innervates the muscles responsible for ankle dorsiflexion. Foot drop can impede toe clearance and increase the risk of falling, the leading cause of injury among adults ≥65 years. Lower-limb robotic exoskeletons have been used for gait training and can aid with walking, but current devices on the market can be heavy, expensive, and constrained to in-clinic use. Soft wearable robotic devices offer a lightweight and cost-effective alternative to traditional lower-limb exoskeletons. In particular, soft pneumatic systems have the potential to provide a high power-to-weight ratio making them ideal for a wearable application. The soft pneumatic exosuit consists of a footplate to collect air, storage to temporarily house the collected air, and two pneumatic actuators to provide an assistive torque around the wearer’s ankle joint while walking. EMG and IMU sensors were integrated to control the opening and closing of solenoid valves so that assistive torques could be applied to the ankle joint at optimal moments during the gait cycle. Preliminary validation of the soft pneumatic exosuit on a healthy participant demonstrated that the system could successfully deliver the air required to contract the actuators when the EMG sensors detected an increase in muscle activity. These results demonstrate that the current soft pneumatic exosuit appears to be a promising alternative to current rehabilitation exoskeletons on the market while remaining portable and low-cost. / 2025-05-24T00:00:00Z