| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R79234/01 |
| Title: |
Integrated Voluntary Control of Unsupported Paraplegic Standing |
| Principal Investigator: |
Hunt, Professor K |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Glasgow |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 September 2002 |
Ends: |
30 April 2006 |
Value (£): |
235,182
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Biomaterials |
Control Engineering |
| Med.Instrument.Device& Equip. |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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This proposal is for research into control systems for restoration of stable unsupported standing in people with impaired balance, and particularly those with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Our work is clinically relevant because, for several important reasons, standing therapy is highly important.The scientific basis of the work is the challenge to develop an integrated control approach in which artificial controllers of the paralysed lower limbs ac in concert with the voluntary postural control actions of the upper body. We will investigate high-level strategies for integrating these two parts of the posture stabilisation system. We will also investigate the significance of higher-order components in natural ankle control during standing, and seek to use the results to inform the design process for our artificial ankle controllers. An experimental study will be carried out with intact and paraplegic hum subjects using an instrumented standing apparatus, the Multi-purpose Rehabilitation Frame (MRF). New postural control strategies will be implements in two ways: using the MRF's hydraulic actuators; and using functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the ankle-actuating muscles in paraplegic subjects. Involvement of the SCI population will be through collaboration with clinicians at the Scottish National Spinal Injuries Unit. Finally, applicatior of the new methods to balance re-training in the stroke population will be assessed through collaboration with the Slovenian Rehabilitation Institute.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.gla.ac.uk |