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Enhancing Biomechanical Function Through Development And Testing Of Assistive Devices For Shoulder Impairment And Total Limb Amputation, Patrick Hall

Doctoral Dissertations

Assistive devices serve as a potential for restoring sensorimotor function to impaired individuals. My research focuses on two assistive devices: a passive shoulder exoskeleton and a muscle-driven endoprosthesis (MDE). Previous passive shoulder exoskeletons have focused on testing during static loading conditions in the shoulder. However, activities of daily living are based on dynamic tasks. My research for passive shoulder exoskeletons analyzes the effect that a continuous passive assistance has on shoulder biomechanics. In my research I showed that passive assistance decreases the muscular activation in muscles responsible for positive shoulder exoskeleton. An MDE has the potential to have accurate and …