Phillips C A, Koubek R J, Hendershot D M
Department of Biomedical and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio 45435.
J Biomed Eng. 1991 Mar;13(2):91-6. doi: 10.1016/0141-5425(91)90054-b.
A major limitation in the utilization of a functional electrical stimulation (FES) orthosis for routine, daily standing and walking of the spinal-cord-injured person is that visual monitoring is required to maintain balance and the walking pace. For standing and walking to be continuous and automatic with such an orthosis, a closed-loop sensory feedback system is proposed and evaluated; it provides vibrotactile feedback as a substitute to one's own visual sensation. Eight blindfolded experimental subjects were utilized as 'imitators' to interpret the footfalls of a second person (the pace setter). The experimental objective was to test the hypothesis that sufficient information could be transferred by way of the sensory (tactile) feedback system to the 'imitator' and to determine effectively foot position and anticipate the next step of the pacesetter. Quantitative analysis evaluated the effect of three different levels of training, under two different levels of cognitive load. The results disclosed a significant improvement in subject performance at the higher training levels compared with the 'no training' level (P = 0.01). Neither the cognitive load nor the interaction of training and cognitive load altered significantly the effect of training on subject performance. The experimental hypothesis is therefore satisfied that sufficient information was indeed transferred using the apparatus described. Such information (when utilized in conjunction with a thorough training programme) could be used in a practical sense by a paraplegic individual to interpret his own foot steps. Through continued use and training, it is likely that this information could become subconscious and automatic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
对于脊髓损伤患者，在日常站立和行走中使用功能性电刺激（FES）矫形器的一个主要限制是，需要视觉监测来维持平衡和行走速度。为了使这种矫形器能够实现连续自动的站立和行走，提出并评估了一种闭环感觉反馈系统；该系统提供振动触觉反馈，以替代自身的视觉感知。八名蒙眼的实验对象被用作“模仿者”，以解读另一个人（领跑者）的脚步声。实验目的是检验以下假设：通过感觉（触觉）反馈系统能够向“模仿者”传递足够的信息，从而有效确定足部位置并预测领跑者的下一步动作。定量分析评估了在两种不同认知负荷水平下三种不同训练水平的效果。结果显示，与“无训练”水平相比，较高训练水平下受试者的表现有显著改善（P = 0.01）。认知负荷以及训练与认知负荷的交互作用均未显著改变训练对受试者表现的影响。因此，实验假设得到满足，即使用所述设备确实传递了足够的信息。这些信息（与全面的训练计划结合使用时）在实际中可被截瘫患者用于解读自己的脚步。通过持续使用和训练，这些信息很可能会变得下意识且自动。（摘要截选至250词）
