1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for lower-limb rehabilitation training of a patient with a paralyzed lower limb (hereinafter will be referred to “patient with lower-limb partial paralysis”). Particularly, the apparatus for lower-limb rehabilitation training of the invention can measure changes in the weight loaded on the lower limb and in the angle of a joint while using the changes in the weight and the joint angle as variables in order to measure the condition of paralysis of the lower limb. In addition, the apparatus of the invention can display the condition of paralysis to the patient with lower-limb paralysis in various ways so that the patient can recognize the usage of the lower limb and make efforts to improve its usage, thereby making feedback effects. Furthermore, by using the rehabilitation training apparatus, the patient can alternatively raise the heels, bend the knees or walk as rehabilitation training.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hemiplegia or partial paralysis (hereinafter will be referred to as “partial paralysis”) originating from apoplexy, traumatic brain damage or cerebral palsy is a motor paralysis that paralyzes muscles or motors so that the paralyzed muscles cannot exert power to a proper extent at necessary moments. In order to treat the patient with partial paralysis, it is possible to use several methods such as physical strengthening, muscle controlling, stretching, balancing and so on. As a rehabilitation training of the patient with upper-limb partial paralysis, a treatment for forcing the patient to use the paralyzed upper limb is being recognized as the most successful among several rehabilitation trainings.
A conventional treatment apparatus for enabling forced use of a paralyzed lower limb is disclosed in for example Korean Patent Application No. 1997-0028382, titled “A Rehabilitation Training System for Balancing a Posture.” As shown in FIG. 1, the system for enabling forced use of the paralyzed lower limb in the document of “A Rehabilitation Training System for Balancing a Posture” includes a part 11 for measuring weight loaded on both lower limbs and a part 12 for notifying measurement values to the user so that the user can compare on which one of the both lower limbs weight is loaded more. However, the prior art of “A Rehabilitation Training System for Balancing a Posture” considers shifting the center of weight only, but does not consider the angle of a joint. Accordingly, even though the prior art has symmetrically distributed weight, walking ability has not been improved.
In practice, in case of normal walking, one bears the weight on one lower limb with its knee bent for about 15° while raising the other lower limb. Then, the knee of the lower limb supporting the weight is straightened and the weight center of the other lower limb is shifted forward. It is carried out repeatedly. As the normal walking is carried out through the shift of weight center as well as change in the angle of the lower limb, the angle of the joint is an important variable of walking. As illustrated with the normal walking, the shift of the weight center together with change in the angle of the joint enables the movement of the lower limb.
However, a patient with lower-limb partial paralysis has trouble in bending the knee owing to paralysis, and thus tends to shift the center of weight without bending the knee. This results in abnormal walking of the patient.
Accordingly, it should be confirmed whether or not the weight is loaded evenly onto both lower limbs and the joint is systematically working along with the weight load in order that the rehabilitation training system or apparatus for lower-limb partial paralysis can be more effectively used in balance and walking trainings.
Examples of the apparatus for measuring the joint is systematically working along with the weight. Since the three-dimensional walking analysis system three dimensionally analyzes images taken by the three cameras 21 or more, analysis process is complicated and too time-consuming to enable real-time feedback. Furthermore, since the force plate 22 needs a wide place, this system also disadvantageously needs a large space and expensive equipments. Therefore, the three-dimensional walking analysis system is not used for walking training.
Accordingly, there are needs for an apparatus and method for rehabilitation training that can be constituted of inexpensive equipments to measure the weight load and changes in the joint angle while displaying the measurement in real-time to the user.