Control of Movement for the Physically Disabled

Citation

Rigelsford, J. (2001), "Control of Movement for the Physically Disabled", Industrial Robot, Vol. 28 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2001.04928eae.001

Control of Movement for the Physically Disabled

Control of Movement for the Physically Disabled

D. Popovic and T. SinkjaerSpringer2000481 pp.ISBN 1-85233-279-4£70.00 Hardback

Keywords: Publication, Disabled people, Motion control, Rehabilitation

This book addresses how the next generation of rehabilitation devices for humans with sensory-motor disability should evolve. It brings together many years of research and development in the field of motor control and rehabilitation technologies and subjects including experimental physiology, kinesiology, rehabilitation therapy, and computer and electrical engineering.

The book contains six chapters which discuss a range of issues moving from natural to artificial control. Chapter 1 addresses "Organs and tissues for human movement" and discusses the neuroanatomical basis for control of movement, sensory systems for control of movement, skeletal muscles - natural actuators for movement, and skeleto-muscular structure of extremities. Chapter 2, "Mechanisms for natural control of movement", discusses the organisation and mechanisms for the control of movement, mechanisms for the control of posture, mechanisms for the control of walking, and the control of goal-directed movement.

Chapter 3 addresses the pathology of sensory-motor systems, assessment methods of sensory-motor disorders, and movement analysis. State of the art movement restoration is discussed in chapter 4, and addresses neuro-regeneration, neuro-rehabilitation, neuro-prostheses, artificial legs, and artificial hands and arms. The following chapter, "External control of movement", presents an overview of control systems for movement, hybrid hierarchical control systems, control methods to restore standing, controlling neuro-prostheses for walking, and controlling neuro-prostheses for grasping and reaching. The final chapter is an epilogue and states that collaborative, interdisciplinary research that combines both high and low level views and integrates sensory data with motor commands will be required to further develop the restoration of human movement.

Overall, this is a very good book which will aid the teaching and development of new rehabilitation technologies for restoring movements in humans and therefore help to provide a better standard of living for people with sensory-motor disabilities.