Chen Zhiquan, Guo Jiabao, Liu Yishan, Tian Mengqian, Wang Xingsong
School of Mechanical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Front Neurorobot. 2024 Oct 18;18:1477232. doi: 10.3389/fnbot.2024.1477232. eCollection 2024.
In this work, the mechanical principles of external fixation and resistance training for the wrist affected by a distal radius fracture (DRF) are revealed. Based on the biomechanical analysis, two wearable exoskeleton devices are proposed to facilitate the DRF rehabilitation progress. Chronologically, the adjustable fixation device (AFD) provides fixed protection and limited mobilization of the fractured wrist in the early stage, while the functional recovery of relevant muscles is achieved by the resistance training device (RTD) in the later stage. According to the designed mechatronic systems of AFD and RTD, the experimental prototypes for these two apparatuses are established. By experiments, the actual motion ranges of AFD are investigated, and the feasibility in monitoring joint angles are validated. Meanwhile, the resistant influences of RTD are analyzed based on the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal features, the results demonstrate that the training-induced muscle strength enhancement is generally increased with the increment in external resistance. The exoskeleton devices presented in this work would be beneficial for the active rehabilitation of patients with DRF.
在这项工作中，揭示了桡骨远端骨折（DRF）手腕的外固定和阻力训练的力学原理。基于生物力学分析，提出了两种可穿戴外骨骼装置，以促进DRF的康复进程。按时间顺序，可调固定装置（AFD）在早期为骨折手腕提供固定保护并限制其活动，而后期通过阻力训练装置（RTD）实现相关肌肉的功能恢复。根据AFD和RTD设计的机电一体化系统，建立了这两种装置的实验原型。通过实验，研究了AFD的实际运动范围，并验证了监测关节角度的可行性。同时，基于表面肌电图（sEMG）信号特征分析了RTD的阻力影响，结果表明训练引起的肌肉力量增强通常随着外部阻力的增加而增加。这项工作中提出的外骨骼装置将有利于DRF患者的主动康复。
