Stair climbing

About: Stair climbing is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1610 publications have been published within this topic receiving 30504 citations.

Blood flow restricted walking in elderly individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a feasibility study

Abstract: Objective To investigate whether blood flow restricted walking exercise is feasible in patients with knee osteoarthritis, and to examine changes in functional performance and self-reported function. Design Feasibility study. Patients and methods Fourteen elderly individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis participated in 8–10 weeks of outdoor walking (4 km/h, 20 min/session, 4 times/week) with partial blood flow restriction applied to the affected leg. Adherence, drop-outs and adverse events were registered. Timed Up and Go test, 30-s sit-to-stand performance, 40-m fast-paced walk speed, stair-climbing and Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score were assessed pre- and post-training. Results Nine participants completed the intervention, while 5 participants withdrew (4 due to intervention-related reasons). In non-completing participants baseline body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.05) and knee pain (p = 0.06) were higher, while gait performance (p = 0.04) was lower. Considering completed case data, the training-adherence rate was 93%, while mean knee pain in the affected leg was 0.7 on a numerical rating scale of 0–10. Functional performance improved, while self-reported function remained unchanged. Conclusion Blood flow restricted walking exercise appeared feasible in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Participants who completed the intervention protocol demonstrated improvements in functional performance, with no changes in self-reported function. LAY ABSTRACT Patients with knee osteoarthritis typically experience knee joint pain and functional disability. Consequently, it is beneficial for these patients to engage in tolerable exercise programmes to enhance their functional performance. This study examined the feasibility of 8–10 weeks of blood flow restricted (BFR) walking exercise in patients with long-term knee osteoarthritis. The exercise programme was feasible, did not exacerbate knee pain or provoke cuff discomfort, and produced improved functional performance in those participants (9/14) who completed the intervention protocol (93% adherence rate). Notably however, 4 patients withdrew from the study due to intervention-related reasons. In this study, feasibility and adherence to BFR-walking appeared to depend on individual factors, with high body mass index, high perceived knee pain, and low baseline levels of fast-paced walking, predisposing to low adherence to training. Thus, these individual characteristics must be taken into account when administering BFR-walking exercise in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Stair climbing vehicle

Abstract: The utility model discloses a stair climbing vehicle, including handrail, wheelset, wheelset frame and cargo platform, cargo platform one end is passed through elevating system and is set up on the wheel carrier of back, elevating system includes rotatable lead screw, the sleeve integrative with the trailing axle, the guide rail, controlling means, motor and battery, the cover barrel casing is on the lead screw, motor spindle through the meshing of turbine and lead screw when meetting complicated topography such as stair, controlling means instruction motor is rotatory, the drive lead screw is rotatory, sleeve on the lead screw will reciprocate, the trailing axle integrative with the sleeve reciprocates thereupon, can reduce the resistance that the trailing axle removed the in -process with trailing axle complex double guide rail, accelerate to adjust horizontally speed, the rear wheel also will reciprocate, when removing cargo platform horizontally position, controlling means stops the operation with the control motor. So circulation for when stair climbing vehicle advanced in complicated topography such as stair, cargo platform remained the level throughout, had improved stair climbing vehicle's security and stationarity.

Trunk Kinematics and Trunk Muscle EMG Activity during Five Functional Locomotor Types

Abstract: The incidence of back injury is a significant problem in heavy industry, but little is known about the demands placed on the spinal mechanism during functional types of locomotion such as might be used in the workplace. In this study electromyography was used to analyze the activity of erector spinae and rectus abdominis muscles in 18 normal male subjects during level walking, stair climbing, stair descent, ramp climbing and ramp descent. Body segment position in the sagittal plane was recorded on high speed cinefilm. Comparison between the five different locomotion types showed significant differences in segment positions, range of motion and myoelectric activity. The results of this study could be used by occupational therapists to design assessment instruments, work hardening programs and modifications to the workplace for back injured clients and to recommend prevention programs for persons at risk for low-back injury.