Patient Selection in Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR).

For almost as long as selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has existed, there has been debate surrounding which patients should be eligible to undergo the procedure. The selection criteria used to identify suitable surgical candidates have remained largely unchanged for the last three decades, despite the popularity and use of the procedure increasing. Historically, those aged between 3 and 9 years, those of GMFCS level 2 or 3, and those without evidence of dystonia were considered for SDR.

Creating a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Team.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is becoming increasingly popular in the management of spasticity in children. Spasticity itself is a multifaceted clinical entity that requires a holistic approach in order to effectively care for and improve the quality of life of those affected. To deliver these goals, a broad multidisciplinary team is required.

Preference-based assistance optimization for lifting and lowering with a soft back exosuit.

Wearable robotic devices have become increasingly prevalent in both occupational and rehabilitative settings, yet their widespread adoption remains inhibited by usability barriers related to comfort, restriction, and noticeable functional benefits. Acknowledging the importance of user perception in this context, this study explores preference-based controller optimization for a back exosuit that assists lifting. Considering the high mental and metabolic effort discrete motor tasks impose, we used a forced-choice Bayesian Optimization approach that promotes sampling efficiency by leveraging domain knowledge about just noticeable differences between assistance settings.

The perceptual and biomechanical effects of scaling back exosuit assistance to changing task demands.

Back exoskeletons are gaining attention for preventing occupational back injuries, but they can disrupt movement, a burden that risks abandonment. Enhanced adaptability is proposed to mitigate burdens, but perceptual benefits are less known. This study investigates the perceptual and biomechanical impacts of a SLACK suit (non-assistive) controller versus three controllers with varying adaptability: a Weight-Direction-Angle adaptive (WDA-ADPT) that scales assistance based on the weight of the boxes using a chest-mounted camera and machine learning algorithm, movement direction, and trunk flexion angle, and standard Direction-Angle adaptive (DA-ADPT) and Angle adaptive (A-ADPT) controllers.

Active back exosuits demonstrate positive usability perceptions that drive intention-to-use in the field among logistic warehouse workers.

Back exosuits offer the potential to reduce occupational back injuries but require in-field acceptance and use to realize this potential. For this study, 146 employees trialed an active back exosuit in the field for 4 h, completing an acceptance usability survey. Comparing the 80% of employees willing to continue wearing this device (N = 117) to those who were not (N = 29) revealed that employees willing to wear this device for a longer-term study generally were more likely to perceive this back exosuit to be effective (helpful) and compatible (minimally disruptive) to their everyday work.