Biomedical subjects

Nika Goljar

Publications and source records attributed to Nika Goljar.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Application of haptic interface for finger exercise.

A haptic device with two active degrees-of-freedom and a tendon-driven transmission system was designed, later on constructed, and submitted to testing. It was embodied as a lightweight mechanism with a small workspace that wraps the finger workspace and can generate forces up to 10 N suitable for finger exercise. The control loop and the user application were implemented on a personal computer in the Microsoft Windows environment. Along with the device, application covering several different experiment types was developed. The system was evaluated in a group of stroke patients during a one-month period of therapy. Results for two types of experiments are presented. The progress of the patient affected hand side was found to be greater than for the one nonaffected, however, the mean values of the relevant parameters on the nonaffected side of patients are higher than those for the affected side. Results were compared to the motor component of functional independence measure (M-FIM) measured clinical scale.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Methods for dynamic balance training during standing and stepping.

The regaining of walking ability is one of the main goals of rehabilitation following stroke. An important aspect of bipedal locomotion is efficient balancing of the trunk. In this article a novel methodology for dynamic balance training during standing and stepping is presented in a commercially available mechanical balance training device. A case study that lasted for two-weeks with two half-hour training sessions per day, involving a single subject with chronic hemiparesis, investigated the effects of the proposed dynamic balance training. Instrumented kinesiological evaluation of the subject's gait indicated important improvement in the subject's postural control during walking. Finally, the possibility of combining therapeutic functional electrical stimulation of selected lower extremity muscles with the methodology for dynamic balance training presented here is discussed.

Hemiplegia↗

PubMed2005

Grip force tracking system for assessment and rehabilitation of hand function.

The aim of the paper is to present a novel tracking system for the assessment and training of grip force control. The system consists of two force measuring units of different shapes, which can be connected to a personal computer for visual feedback and data acquisition. We present the results of the assessment of the grip force control in 32 healthy subjects of different age groups and preliminary results obtained in a patient after head-injury who was treated with Botulinum-Toxin for hand spasticity. The proposed tracking system was also applied as a training tool in 10 post-stroke patients to possibly improve their grip force control. The results in healthy subjects showed significant differences in grip force control among different age groups. In the patient after Botulinum-Toxin treatment the method revealed noticeable effects of the therapy on the patient's tracking performance. Training with the tracking system showed considerable improvements in the grip force control in 8 out of 10 stroke patients. The proposed tracking method is aimed to be used in connection with different rehabilitation therapies (e.g. physiotherapy, functional electrical stimulation, drug treatment) to follow the influence of the therapy on patient's muscular strength and grip force control.

Adult↗