Graduation Year
2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.M.E.
Degree Name
MS in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.M.E.)
Degree Granting Department
Mechanical Engineering
Major Professor
Kyle Reed, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Stephanie Carey, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Seok Hun Kim, Ph.D.
Keywords
Stroke rehabilitation, Combination therapy, Multimodal cues, Neuro-motor deficits
Abstract
Stroke remains a leading cause of long-term disability, with survivors often facing challenges in mobility, particularly gait asymmetry. This adversity not only diminishes the quality of life but also imposes substantial socioeconomic burdens. Current rehabilitation methods are somewhat effective yet exhibit a dire need for augmentation to better address gait abnormalities. The novel introduction of Auditory Rhythmic Asymmetric Cues, Tactile Rhythmic Asymmetric Cues, and their simultaneous combination (A-RAC, T-RAC, and AT) offers a fresh perspective toward gait rehabilitation, aimed at taking steps to alleviate the adversities borne by stroke survivors. This study provides a thorough investigation of these asymmetric cues, critically evaluating their impact on one spatial, four temporal, and three force parameter asymmetries across 18 able-bodied subjects (9 male, 9 female). Through a well-structured experimental setup, the intervention revealed notable impacts on several gait parameter asymmetries. Especially remarkable were the results from A-RAC, which demonstrated a significant effect in modifying most temporal and force parameter asymmetries during the adaptation stage, T-RAC which exhibited similar effects as A RAC on temporal gait parameters (to a statistically lesser extent most notably), and AT whose reduced Inter Quartile Range (IQR) suggested a potential for enhanced cue adherence in temporal parameters. Additionally, A-RAC and T-RAC induced an asymmetry that was statistically significant and whose mean and median values were in the opposite direction relative to the baseline. This points to the possibility that A-RAC and T-RAC stimulate the ankle plantar flexor muscles on opposite legs. These findings not only underscore the innovative nature of asymmetrical cueing but also beckon further investigation for more effective gait rehabilitation techniques.
Scholar Commons Citation
Bartlett, Scott J. Jr., "Harnessing Multimodal Sensory Feedback: An Exploration of Rhythmic Asymmetric Cues in Gait Rehabilitation" (2023). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10705
