Wrist Range of Motion Variability for Adaptive Exoskeleton Design: A Study on users with and without SCI or ALS

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Biomechanics
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Wrist exoskeletons show potential for individuals with motor impairments like spinal cord injury (SCI) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
• Current designs often lack adjustability for individual wrist range of motion (ROM), impacting safety and usability.
• Understanding user-specific ROM is vital for developing effective and safe assistive devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on wrist abduction/adduction ROM measurements.
• To investigate and compare wrist abduction/adduction ROM across different user groups.
• To inform the design of adjustable and user-centered wrist exoskeletons.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of wrist abduction/adduction ROM measurements.
• Experimental measurement of wrist abduction/adduction ROM in three groups: individuals without motor disability, individuals with ALS, and individuals with SCI.
• Analysis of ROM data to identify intergroup variability over three trials.

Main Results:

• Individuals without motor disability demonstrated the widest ROM.
• Individuals with SCI exhibited reduced adduction compared to other groups.
• Significant intergroup variability in wrist ROM was observed.

Conclusions:

• User-specific ROM considerations are essential for optimizing wrist exoskeleton functionality and preventing injury.
• Tailoring exoskeleton designs to individual user needs, especially considering ROM variability, is crucial for rehabilitation.
• This research highlights the need for adjustable, user-centered wrist exoskeleton designs to address current safety and usability gaps.