Measurement System of Transfer Motion for Patient with Spinal Cord Injuries

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to make clear the side-approach transfer ability of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. We evaluate the SCI patient's skill and muscle power for the transfer motion by imaging patient's transfer motion and measuring the floor reaction forces. In this study, the measurement of the side-approach transfer from the wheelchair to the platform was carried out in eight SCI patients who train the side-approach transfer in rehabilitation and two healthy subjects. We can understand that the brachial muscle power of left hand is necessary so that SCI patients lift about 50% of the body weight for the side-approach transfer. The force patterns and the force direction of the left hand are different among SCI patients. Using force pattern, the medical staffs can evaluate the ability of the side-approach transfer motion of each patient