United Spinal's Action Online Magazine » Assistive Technology

Gait Training Today

Ziggi — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:53:02 +0000

Practicing walking has a range of health benefits for the person with a spinal cord impairment.

By Rebecca Kellogg

Lokomat PRO with Augmented Feedback: Medical Rehabilitation and Kinematics Lab

Offering powerful health benefits and a chance to progress to greater independence, gait training is an attractive option for many individuals with spinal cord impairments (SCI). This article will look at how gait training works, what it can do for you, and what’s new in gait training technology and research.

How Gait Training Works

Gait training therapy helps individuals with SCI stand and walk with mechanical or other, sometimes human, assistance. Many researchers [...]

Coping with a Surprise Diagnosis

Ziggi — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:26:46 +0000

| Tech Edge

By John M. Williams

It was 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. I was working in my office. Suddenly, I felt my body become sapped of strength. I told my wife Lisa, I was going to bed for an hour. She assured me that she and Brandon, our youngest son, would not wake me up.

Three hours later, I did wake up. My left hand was as stiff as a corpse. This was not totally unfamiliar to me. The stiffness and weakness had been occurring and then disappearing for about five months. For about five months, I also had trouble walking on my [...]

Standing Up for Students with Special Needs

Ziggi — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:41:03 +0000

Schools are providing disabled students with motorized “standers” for the physiological, academic and social benefits.

By Adam Rosenthal

Independent movement has long been regarded as vital for students with special needs. In fact, research shows that children who can move independently through their environment have better spatial and cognitive skills and learn more in a shorter amount of time than those who cannot.

However, until recently the only option for students with disabilities for powered mobility has been some sort of motorized wheelchair. Although this provides the self- initiated movement the student needs, further research has proven that there are also significant benefits [...]

Stand by Me! Blog Tracks Progress of FES Implant Recipient Jen French

Ziggi — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:49:30 +0000

Follow the journey of Jen French, Cleveland FES Center research participant, in her “Stand by Me” journal. Jen participates in the Stand & Transfer Program for Spinal Cord Injury and will receive an upgraded FES system for trunk control and stand/transfer.

This site will contain journal entries from Jen during her pre-surgical preparation, surgery, recovery and rehabilitation with intermittent comments from the clinical team clarifying Jen’s progress and experience.

Although this site is hosted by the Cleveland FES Center, Jen’s Journal is her own.

Jen’s journey begins…

July 19, 2010

Twelve years ago I sustained a spinal cord injury [...]

A Powerful Step Forward

Ziggi — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:13:51 +0000

Inventor Lance Black designed an award-winning device that improves the standing ability—and independence—of people with degenerative disorders, including post-polio syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

By Lynne Harris

Dr. Lance Black has always been curious about the combination of man and machine, but it’s not race cars or rockets that captivate him. From the time Black was young, he had a passion for using science and engineering to develop prosthetic devices that could help people with disabilities, particularly amputees, achieve their goals.

“I always felt that people looked at amputees differently, because their differences were right there on the surface,” said Black. “All their [...]

Accessible iPad

Ziggi — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:01:47 +0000

| TECH EDGE

By John M. Williams

Apple iPad's iBook App

What is the essence of Apple’s iPad? I believe this unique tablet is a new way to view media. The iPad results from high-end hardware, superior design ingenuity and the power of touch-screen technology. Recently, I had an opportunity to test the iPad. A visually impaired friend of mine wanted my opinion of it, so he loaned it to me for three days. I almost didn’t want to give it back.

I love this upgraded version of Apple’s iPod.

The iPad is accessible to people with disabilities. I applaud Apple for [...]