title: Offaxis neuromuscular training of knee injuries using an offaxis robotic elliptical trainer.
abstract: The goal of this study was to use an offaxis robotic elliptical trainer to improve off-axis neuromuscular control in people with knee injuries. Thirteen individuals with knee injuries participated in the study. Among them, 8 individuals participated in 18 sessions of pivoting offaxis intensity-adjustable neuromuscular control training (POINT) (3 sessions/week for 6 weeks including 3 evaluation sessions) to improve offaxis neuromuscular control, specifically dynamic lower limb stability in pivoting. 5 individuals served as controls who only participated in the three evaluations. Following POINT patients in the training group reduced pivoting instability (p=0.024), while the control group did not (p=0.118). Individuals in the training group were able to hop farther in a single leg hop for distance task, take shorter in 12 m hop time for time task, and reported reduced knee pain. The results suggest that subject-specific POINT utilizing the novel robotic elliptical trainer can be implemented as a rehabilitation protocol for patients with knee injuries to improve their lower limb functions and reduce knee symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL60611, USA. song-lee@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Song Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yupeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: Alison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Joel M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: Li-Qun
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome