Smart Leg Rehabilitation System

Tiew, Yin Cheng (2017) Smart Leg Rehabilitation System. Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Mekanik. (Submitted)

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Abstract

The function of the lower limb can be affected by stroke, accident or even aging. Paralysis on one side of the body is a common effect of stroke which diminishes the strength and control of the lower limb. The lower limb can be rehabilitated by means of exercise. The passive exercise is when the muscle is moved by the means of external force and the active exercise is when the muscle exerted the force necessary to create the motion. Passive range of motion exercises are for stroke survivors who are left with mild to severe paralysation, or paresis. These exercises can help prevent muscle stiffness and spasticity which is the limited coordination and muscle movement. Resistive exercises involve conscious control of the muscle and physical effort exerted into muscular activity to improve neural path formation. The aim of this project is to develop a combination of rehabilitation system based on assistive and resistive mode of motions which cover the flexion-extension of the leg as it is found that the lifting index of conventional rehabilitation by physiotherapists is more than 1 which indicates a high risk of back pain (according to NIOSH). The assistive mode of motion is set at 10s per motion at 6 cycles per minute which allows a high intensity and repetitive form of knee extension and flexion and also dorsi-plantar motions. The input pad is used as the data entry and also for data display for monitoring and recording purposes. A simulated paretic limb for a 45kg person has carried out the passive mode of motion and an average force of 32N is obtained. Then healthy leg force measurement is carried out at which the person has exerted the maximum pushing force when the cylinder is at rest in retraction mode and obtained a simulated maximum force of 120N. Resistive rehabilitation exercise is for patient who has slowly regain some strength. It aims to regain lost movement after stroke by strengthening the neural pathways in the brain that enable the performance of the movement. The patient is required to exert force on the leg and the force being exerted by the patient during the hip-knee joint extension will be measured by the load cell at the foot rest. The reading from the load cell is taken as an input to a control system within myRIO to determine whether enough force has been applied to allow the motion. A pre-set force value of 40N is set in active mode of motion. The system will only complete the knee extension motion if the paretic limb has achieved the pre-set force value and it will end the process when it is unable to achieve the pre-set value. This provides a mean for quantitatively monitoring the motor recovery during rehabilitation. This active mode of motion provides positive feedback on the recovery of the muscle strength that motivates the patient to work harder to overcome the pre-set force value. The developed system highlight the advantages of the system in collecting data, driving the actuators, providing suitable resistance level for active exercise based on closed loop control system and to record the achievement of the patient.

Item Type: Monograph (Project Report)
Subjects: T Technology
T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
Divisions: Kampus Kejuruteraan (Engineering Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Kejuruteraan Mekanikal (School of Mechanical Engineering) > Monograph
Depositing User: Mr Mohamed Yunus Mat Yusof
Date Deposited: 30 Aug 2022 02:08
Last Modified: 30 Aug 2022 02:08
URI: http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/54394

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