The study investigated the effects of using a lower body prototype exoskeleton (EXO) on static limits of stability and postural sway. Measurements were taken with participants, 10 US Army enlisted men, standing on a force platform. The men were tested with and without the EXO (15 kg) while carrying military loads of 20, 40 and 55 kg. Body lean to the left and right was significantly less and po...

OBJECTIVE to verify whether there are associations among occupational roles, independence to perform Activities of Daily Living, purchasing power, and assistive technology for individuals with physical disabilities. METHOD 91 individuals with physical disabilities participated in the study. The instruments used were: Role Checklist, Brazilian Economic Classification Criterion, Barthel Index, ...

A high proportion of health and social care staff work with patients who have problems remembering to take medication. This article describes how assistive technology can be used to enable patients to manage their own medication despite the challenges of memory or visual impairment.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to describe, qualitatively the use of service dogs by persons with physical disabilities and the meaning of this experience. METHOD Five service dog owners were observed and interviewed on multiple occasions through an ethnographic approach. RESULTS Identified themes were increased community participation, "closer than family" increased social contact...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To determine if a self help intervention, delivered via written interactive materials (the "Walk in to Work Out" pack), could increase active commuting behaviour (walking and cycling). DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. The intervention group received the "Walk in to Work Out" pack, which contained written interactive materials based on the transtheoretical model of behaviour...

OBJECTIVES To examine variation in provision of assistive technology (AT) devices and the extent to which such variation may be explained by patient characteristics or Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administrative region. DESIGN Retrospective population-based study. SETTING VHA. PARTICIPANTS Veterans poststroke in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (N=12,046). INTERVENTIONS Not applicable...