Showing papers on "Stair climbing published in 1998"

Treating disability in knee osteoarthritis with exercise therapy: a central role for self-efficacy and pain.

Abstract: Objective. To examine the effects of aerobic and resistance exercise on self-efficacy beliefs in older adults with knee osteoarthritis [OA] and to determine whether self-efficacy and knee pain mediated the effects of the treatments on stair time performance and health perceptions. Methods. Measures of self-efficacy knee pain, stair climbing performance, and health perceptions were collected prior to randomization and again at an 18-month follow up in older adults with knee OA who were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment conditions: aerobic exercise, resistance training, or health education control. All analyses were conducted on the intention-to-treat principle. Results. Both exercise treatments increased self-efficacy for stair climbing in comparison to the health education control group. Both knee pain and self-efficacy mediated the effect of the treatments on stair climb time, whereas only knee pain mediated health perceptions. Conclusions. The findings suggest that control beliefs and changes in physical symptoms such as knee pain are important outcomes in physical activity programs with patients who have OA of the knee. Moreover, these variables mediate the effects that such programs have on disability and health perceptions.

SCOUT: a simple quadruped that walks, climbs, and runs

Abstract: A simple mechanical design for quadrupedal locomotion, termed SCOUT, is proposed, featuring only one degree of freedom per leg. The paper demonstrates experimentally that our first prototype SCOUT-1 is capable of walking, turning, and climbing over a step, despite its mechanical simplicity. The underlying principle is dynamic operation, based on controlled momentum transfer. Simulations show successful walking, stair climbing and running.

A comparison of isokinetic strength testing and gait analysis in patients with posterior cruciate-retaining and substituting knee arthroplasties

Abstract: Fourteen patients with a posterior-stabilized prosthesis in one knee and a posterior cruciate-retaining prosthesis in the contralateral knee and both scoring good or excellent on the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee scale were evaluated by isokinetic muscle testing and comprehensive gait analysis at a mean follow-up of 98 months after arthroplasty. The average HSS knee score (93 points) and the average Knee Society score (94 points) were the same for the cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilized knees. No differences were noted between the cruciate-retaining and the posterior stabilized knees with respect to isokinetic muscle testing parameters (peak torque, endurance, angle of peak torque, and torque acceleration energy) for both quadriceps and hamstrings. No significant differences were found between the cruciate-retaining and the posterior-stabilized knees with regard to gait parameters, knee range of motion, and electromyographic waveforms during level walking and stair climbing. Cruciate-retaining and posterior-stabilized total knee prostheses perform equally well during level gait and stair climbing.

Motor-driven stair climbing device

Abstract: Described is a motor-driven stair climbing device (10) to carry equipment and goods, more particularly wheel chairs (9) with disabled persons. The wheel chair (9) can be detachably fixed to the stair climber (10) and essentially comprises a stable frame (101) with an energy source (8.1, 8.2), a drive shaft (18), a drive control, feelers (7, 131, 132), sensors (7) and a lifting mechanism to climb the steps. The stair climbing device is characterized in that a support device (30, 33) is provided, which is supported on the following step of the stairs (1.2, 1.3) and in that the entire center of gravity (5) of the stair climber (10), the wheel chair (9) and the disabled person is located between the support points of the running wheel (12) or the support device (30, 330) on the steps of the stairs (1.1, 1.2, 1.3).

Transportation device with motor driven stair climbing device

Abstract: The electric motor (24) drives for each wheel a first eccentric lever (26). Through a gear system (28,36) this rotates a second eccentric lever (30) which imparts a linear motion to a strut (17). The strut is connected at one end to the trolley (10) and at the other end to a support foot (21). The linear movement of the strut raises or lowers the trolley off the foot enabling it to negotiate steps.

Development of a stair-climbing mobile robot with legs and wheels

Abstract: This paper deals with the development of a stair-climbing mobile robot with legs and wheels. The main technical issues in developing this type of robot are the stability and speed of the robot while climbing stairs. The robot has two wheels in the front of the body to support its weight when it moves on flat terrain, and it also has arms between the wheels to hook onto the tread of stairs. There are two pairs of legs in the rear of the body. Using not only the rorational torque of the arms and the wheels, but also the force of the legs, the robot goes up and down stairs. It measures the size of stairs when going up and down the first step, and therefore the measurement process does not cause this robot to lose any time. The computer which controls the motion of the robot needs no complicated calculations as other legged robots do. The mechanism of this robot and the control algorithm are described in this paper. This robot will be developed as a wheelchair with a stair climbing mechanism for disabled and elderly people in the near future.

Stair-climbing device

Abstract: There is described a stair-climbing device, which can be used particularly by handicapped persons, comprising a trolley (5) movable along a guiding rail (2) and including a powered roller (15) which is pressed into frictional engagement against the guiding rail (2).

Safety device for stair-climbing systems

Abstract: A safety device for stairway elevator systems ( 10 ) used for transporting apparatus and goods, especially wheelchairs ( 9 ) with persons who are unable to walk. The device is characterized in that the stairway elevator ( 10 ) or wheelchair ( 9 ) is fitted with a mounting device ( 20 ) equipped with a rotation pin ( 21 ). A support bracket ( 30 ) is mounted on the rotation pin ( 21 ) and a braking and blocking device ( 40 ) is attached to both the support bracket ( 30 ) and mounting device ( 20 ). A sensor ( 70 ) controls the braking and blocking device ( 40 ) in such a way that it blocks the support bracket ( 30 ) as soon as the stairway elevator ( 10 ) is at risk of tipping over and down the stairs ( 1 ) and releases the support bracket ( 30 ) when the stairway elevator ( 10 ) is placed at a correct angle to the stairs( 1 ).

Elliptical simulated stair climbing exercise device

Abstract: An exercise device, for simulating elliptical motion of stair climbing, comprising a frame having a front support and a rear support, and comprising upper and lower exercise units. The front support and rear support meet at an apex where they form an acute angle. The exercise units each comprise a pair of elliptical guide tracks which each form a closed loop. A pair of actuating levers are each attached onto the guide tracks by a partial sleeve which is capable of travel around said loop. Each exercise unit also comprises a flywheel assembly which each has a pair of flywheels mounted to the rear support. Each flywheel is attached to one of the actuating levers by a connecting lever. The flywheels are shaped and the connecting levers are connected to the flywheels so as to permit elliptical motion of the actuating levers around the guide track.

Take the Stairs

Abstract: The CDC and other national health organizations recommend at least 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity such as walking or climbing stairs. To increase stair climbing, researchers monitored the results of placing signs in a shopping mall where people could choose …

Braking device of cart for travelling up or down stairs

Abstract: The utility model discloses a braking device for stair climbing carts, which comprises a cart frame, an axle on the cart frame, walking brackets on both side ends of the axle and small wheels arranged on the end heads of the walking brackets, wherein the lateral surfaces of the axle, which are positioned on the walking brackets, are sheathed with braking brackets, the shape of each of the braking brackets is the same as that of each of the walking brackets, the end heads of the braking brackets are provided with braking bowls which are aligned with the small wheels, and positioning pins are arranged on the braking brackets and are sheathed with springs to be inserted in positioning holes on the walking brackets; the lateral surfaces of the axle, which are positioned on the braking brackets, are sheathed with top pipes. The device is arranged on various stair climbing carts and can play a braking function at any moment to avoid the occurrence of hazardous conditions.

Labour-saving hand cart for travelling up stairs

Abstract: The utility model provides a laborsaving stair climbing cart. The existing stair climbing carts are not indeed laborsaving or have complicated structure and high price. The utility model adopts the structure that the front end of a cart bracket 7 is hinged with a symmetrical four-wheel mechanism 3 of which a shaft is fixed with a flywheel 4, the middle part of the bracket 7 is connected with a cam 6 provided with a handle joint 10 and a chain 2 is sheathed on the flywheel 4. One end of the chain 2 is connected to a position which is adjacent to the axle center of the cam 6 by a spring, the other end of the spring is connected to the end of the cam 6, and the end of the cam 6 is far away from the axle center; a handle 9 is welded on the axial lead of a certain angle formed by the cam 6 and the bracket 7.

Double-axle going upstairs handcart

Abstract: The utility model relates to a trolley used for carrying objects and climbing stairs The utility model is characterized in that a supporting shaft (wheel) and a stair climbing shaft (wheel) are arranged on the rear part of the bottom of a carriage The supporting shaft is fixed, a distance adjusting plate is arranged on the stair climbing shaft and fixedly connected with the corresponding position of a soleplate of the carriage together, and the shaft distance adjustment within the range of 0 cm to 60 cm can be carried out in order to satisfy the requirements of different stair dimensions when the trolley climbs stairs A pair of sliding blocks is connected in a rigid way on the lateral part of the bottom of the carriage between two trolley shafts for reducing the resistance when the trolley climbs stairs The utility model is a multipurpose trolley which not only can be used for carrying objects on the flat land, but also can carry objects for climbing stairs

Modeling and Simulation of a Military Urban Robot Using Working Model

Abstract: : The ultimate goals of the modeling efforts were to verify the capabilities of the design to negotiate obstacles, to provide feedback to the design process, and to assist in the development of control algorithms. Modeling was approached with multiple tools. Initially, a kinematics analysis of the vehicle helped in understanding the motion of the microrobot and provided insights for the modeling efforts. The microrobot was then modeled in both Knowledge Revolution Inc.'s Working Model (registered) 2-D and 3-D engineering simulation programs. Finally, Mechanical Dynamics Inc.'s ADAMS (registered) was used to develop a full engineering model of the microrobot to include control algorithms. To date, the modeling effort has focused on the ability of the microrobot to handle stairs. This was viewed as a crucial and significant challenge that must be addressed if the vehicle is to function in urban warfare. Working Model (registered) proved to be a powerful tool that enabled rapid examination of changes in parameters such as weight, center of gravity, strut lengths, coefficients of friction and restitution, etc. Results from the modeling effort impacted the preliminary design of the wheel and strut mobility mechanism and focused on issues that must be addressed in the final design to facilitate stair climbing. Finally, the modeling proved that the JPL/ARL/ORNL/USC team's microrobot can climb stairs using a primarily static sequence.