This paper introduces the locomotion control and the research status of the autonomous interventional diagnostic micro-robots in detail, outlines technical problems and difficulties now existing, and discusses the developing trend of locomotion control.
Artificial Intelligence ; Equipment Design ; Locomotion ; Robotics ; instrumentation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the Korean version of the ABILOCO questionnaire (K-ABILOCO). METHODS: The original ABILOCO questionnaire was translated into Korean and back-translated into English. Stroke patients (n=30) with hemiplegia were evaluated using the K-ABILOCO at one week interval. At each visit, the physiatrist also evaluated patient performance of the activities described in the K-ABILOCO, and the total logit scores were recorded. The total scores were used to evaluate intraclass correlation (ICC). Test-retest scores and each test scores were compared to obtain the intra- and inter-rater reliability. RESULTS: The K-ABILOCO showed good intra-rater correlation at one week interval in both patient and physiatrist evaluations (ICC=0.81, 0.91), respectively. It also showed a high inter-rater correlation between the patient and physiatrist at both the first and second visits (ICC=0.76, 0.84), respectively. CONCLUSION: The K-ABILOCO is a useful tool that may reliably evaluate the locomotion ability in hemiplegic stroke patients.
Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Stroke ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Unsteadiness that people may continuously experience in everyday life is closely related to unilateral vestibulopathy. In human bipedal gait related to locomotion, supra-spinal control is responsible for gait rhythm. The vestibular system is involved in stable gait directly by adjusting the tension of the antigravity muscles and indirectly by producing information related to a change in the center of gravity according to the angular velocity and position of the head; thus, vestibular disorder gives rise to vestibular ataxia. Vestibular ataxia arises from vestibulo-spinal reflex impairment that changes the movement of the center of gravity in gait initiation, step length, stance width, the timing of ground reaction force, and pre-swing. In this way, information from studies related to locomotion is very important in vestibular rehabilitation.
Ataxia ; Gait ; Gravitation ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Muscles ; Reflex

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of progressive speed increase during underwater gait training on stroke patients' balance, gait, and endurance, as well as to compare the effects of underwater gait training and land gait training. METHODS: Subjects were randomly allocated into three groups. Underwater gait training group (n=10), land gait training group (n=9) and control group (n=9). The groups performed their respective programs as well as conventional physical therapy 3 times/week for 8 weeks. The patients were assessed before and after the experiment in terms of the Berg balance scale, characteristics of gait, and 6-minute walking test. RESULTS: The beneficial effect perceived in the speed increase underwater gait training (UGT) group was significantly greater than in the groups who were trained with speed increase land gait training (LGT) group, and the control group regarding the following aspects: the Berg balance scale, the affected step length, the affected stride length, and the 6-minute walking test (p<0.05). The LGT group showed a more significant effect on the Berg balance scale, the affected step length, the affected stride length, and the 6-minute walking test (p<0.05), compared to the control group. Furthermore, the UGT group showed a significantly greater effect on the gait speed when compared to the control groupb (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that progressive UGT is effective in improving balance, gait, and endurance in stroke patients. Therefore, we believe that progressive UGT may be used as a method for general physical therapy in patients with stroke.
Gait ; Humans ; Immersion ; Locomotion ; Methods ; Stroke ; Walking

BACKGROUND: A conventional treadmill provides manually controlled constant speed during exercise. A fast interactive automatic speed control treadmill (FAST), which is highly sensitive to the position of the user on the belt and spontaneously adjusts its speed accordingly, was evaluated in terms of energy expenditure (EE) during exercise. METHODS: A total of 43 subjects were recruited and assigned to one of three exercise intensity groups-low (LIG; 40-50% of VO2max), moderate (MIG; 55-65% of VO2max), and high (HIG; 70-80% of VO2max). During the first test (Test-1), each subject performed an exercise bout on the FAST while spontaneously changing their locomotion speed within their assigned range of intensity. The average speed in Test-1 was calculated and applied to the second test (Test-2), in which the subjects exercised at a constant belt speed and matched the total travel distance of Test-1. During the tests, the oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), respiratory quotient (RQ), oxygen pulse (OP), and EE of each subject were measured. RESULTS: The average VO2 in Test-1 was higher than that in Test-2 for both the LIG (22.95+/-2.55 vs. 21.72+/-2.90 ml/kg/min) and MIG (31.17+/-3.75 vs. 29.73+/-4.86 mL/kg/min) (P<.05) subjects. The EE in Test-1 was higher than that in Test-2 for both the LIG (7.09+/-1.67 vs. 6.71+/-1.73 kcal/min) and MIG (9.79+/-2.62 vs. 9.32+/-2.71 kcal/min) (P<.05) subjects. The HR, RQ, and OP in the LIG and the MIG were similar. There was no difference between Test-1 and Test-2 in any of the metabolic parameters for the HIG subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that, low- to moderate-intensity treadmill exercise at varying speeds required higher energy expenditure than that at a constant speed. Thus, a treadmill with a spontaneous speed variation function may be an effective exercise modality that increases energy expenditure.
Energy Metabolism* ; Heart Rate ; Locomotion ; Oxygen ; Running ; Walking

No abstract available.
Animals ; Locomotion* ; Rats* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

The foot is an essential organ in the locomotion and activity of our daily living, however, its importance has always been underestimated, and foot diseases have not received much attention either from patients ormedical doctors. Recently with the advancement of technology and sophistication of modern life, one can witness a growing interest in various foot diseases in conjunction with an increased trend of many medial centers opening special foot clinics. Unlike in other muscu-Ioskeletal parts, the diagnosis of a foot disease is easy through simple history taking and physical examination, and also the treatment is relatively easy. One important thing to keep in mind is that many foot diseases result from wearing inappropriate shoes therefore the diagnosis of a foot disease should always involve an examination of the patient's shoes, and in some cases patients may require a therapeutic prescription of special shoes. It is the objective of this paper to discuss diagnostic approachesand conservative treatment modalities in common foot diseases.
Diagnosis* ; Foot Diseases* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Physical Examination ; Prescriptions ; Shoes

Human locomotion involves a complex interplay among multiple brain regions and depends on constant feedback from the visual system. We summarize here the current understanding of the relationship among fixations, saccades, and gait as observed in studies sampling eye movements during locomotion, through a review of the literature and a synthesis of the relevant knowledge on the topic. A significant overlap in locomotor and saccadic neural circuitry exists that may support this relationship. Several animal studies have identified potential integration nodes between these overlapping circuitries. Behavioral studies that explored the relationship of saccadic and gait-related impairments in normal conditions and in various disease states are also discussed. Eye movements and locomotion share many underlying neural circuits, and further studies can leverage this interplay for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Animals ; Brain ; Eye Movements ; Gait ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Posture ; Saccades

Humans ; Locomotion ; Mesencephalon ; Midbrain Reticular Formation ; Parkinson Disease

Bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) is characterized by oscillopsia and imbalance during locomotion. Half of the cases of BV are idiopathic, and BV due to brain tumor has been reported only rarely. We report a case of BV due to bilateral cerebellopontine-angle tumors in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 2. Careful history on oscillopsia and imbalance during locomotion, and regular follow-ups using the head-impulse test and dynamic visual acuity are warranted in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2.
Brain Neoplasms ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Locomotion ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 2 ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; Visual Acuity