Danielle Marie Stramel
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Danielle Marie Stramel has a total of 10 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Sunil Kumar Agrawal
Columbia University
4 shared publications - Joel Stein
Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
2 shared publications - Antonio Prado
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
1 shared publication - Heakyung Kim
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
1 shared publication - Lauren Winterbottom
Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
1 shared publication - Malka Jacobs
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
Evaluating Gait Stability and Muscle Activation in Different Hand Holding Conditions Using the Robotic Walker-mTPAD
While walkers are used as mobility aids for different gait impairments, little is known about the factors that affect the performance of such aids. Therefore, we investigated the impact of arm-holding conditions on gait stability and muscle activation. We used surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors on specific arm and leg muscles while the users took laps with a robotic walker, the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (mTPAD), on an instrumented mat. Eleven participants without gait disorders walked with and without a 10% body weight (BW) force applied on the pelvis in the following three configurations: (i) while gripping the walker’s frame, (ii) while using an armrest with their arms at a 90 angle, and (iii) while using an armrest with their arms at a 130 angle for 5 min each. Our results showed that when applying a force, the users changed their gait to increase stability. We also discovered differences in muscle activation based on the user’s specific arm conditions. Specifically, the 130 condition required the least muscle activation, while gripping the walker’s frame increased specific muscle activation compared to 90 and 130. This study is the first to evaluate how arm-holding and external loading conditions alter gait and muscle activations using the mTPAD.Open AccessEvaluating Gait Stability and Muscle Activation in Different Hand Holding Conditions Using the Robotic Walker-mTPAD
While walkers are used as mobility aids for different gait impairments, little is known about the factors that affect the performance of such aids. Therefore, we investigated the impact of arm-holding conditions on gait stability and muscle activation. We used surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors on specific arm and leg muscles while the users took laps with a robotic walker, the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (mTPAD), on an instrumented mat. Eleven participants without gait disorders walked with and without a 10% body weight (BW) force applied on the pelvis in the following three configurations: (i) while gripping the walker’s frame, (ii) while using an armrest with their arms at a 90 angle, and (iii) while using an armrest with their arms at a 130 angle for 5 min each. Our results showed that when applying a force, the users changed their gait to increase stability. We also discovered differences in muscle activation based on the user’s specific arm conditions. Specifically, the 130 condition required the least muscle activation, while gripping the walker’s frame increased specific muscle activation compared to 90 and 130. This study is the first to evaluate how arm-holding and external loading conditions alter gait and muscle activations using the mTPAD. - Open Access
- 8 June 2023
- Published by MDPI AG in Bioengineering
- Vol. 10 (6) , 698
Overground Robotic Gait Trainer mTPAD Improves Gait Symmetry and Weight Bearing in Stroke Survivors
Stroke is a leading cause of disability, impairing the ability to generate propulsive forces and causing significant lateral gait asymmetry. We aim to improve stroke survivors’ gaits by promoting weight-bearing during affected limb stance. External forces can encourage this; e.g., vertical forces can augment the gravitational force requiring higher ground reaction forces, or lateral forces can shift the center of mass over the stance foot, altering the lateral placement of the center of pressure. With our novel design of a mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (mTPAD) paired with the DeepSole system to predict the user’s gait cycle percentage, we demonstrate how to apply three-dimensional forces on the pelvis without lower limb constraints. This work is the first result in the literature that shows that with an applied lateral force during affected limb stance, the center of pressure trajectory’s lateral symmetry is significantly closer to a 0% symmetry () than without external force applied (). Furthermore, the affected limb’s maximum relative pressure (p) significantly increases from 233.7p to 234.1p () with an applied downward force, increasing affected limb loading. This work highlights how the mTPAD increases weight-bearing and propulsive forces during gait, which is a crucial goal for stroke survivors.- 8 June 2023
- Published by MDPI AG in Bioengineering
- Vol. 10 (6) , 698
Open AccessOverground Robotic Gait Trainer mTPAD Improves Gait Symmetry and Weight Bearing in Stroke Survivors
Stroke is a leading cause of disability, impairing the ability to generate propulsive forces and causing significant lateral gait asymmetry. We aim to improve stroke survivors’ gaits by promoting weight-bearing during affected limb stance. External forces can encourage this; e.g., vertical forces can augment the gravitational force requiring higher ground reaction forces, or lateral forces can shift the center of mass over the stance foot, altering the lateral placement of the center of pressure. With our novel design of a mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device (mTPAD) paired with the DeepSole system to predict the user’s gait cycle percentage, we demonstrate how to apply three-dimensional forces on the pelvis without lower limb constraints. This work is the first result in the literature that shows that with an applied lateral force during affected limb stance, the center of pressure trajectory’s lateral symmetry is significantly closer to a 0% symmetry () than without external force applied (). Furthermore, the affected limb’s maximum relative pressure (p) significantly increases from 233.7p to 234.1p () with an applied downward force, increasing affected limb loading. This work highlights how the mTPAD increases weight-bearing and propulsive forces during gait, which is a crucial goal for stroke survivors. - Open Access
- 20 October 2022
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
- Vol. 31 (15344320) , 48-57
Effects of Timed Frontal Plane Pelvic Moments During Overground Walking With a Mobile TPAD System
Robotic gait training may improve overground ambulation for individuals with poor control over pelvic motion. However, there is a need for an overground gait training robotic device that allows full control of pelvic movement and synchronizes applied forces to the user’s gait. This work evaluates an overground robotic gait trainer that applies synchronized forces on the user’s pelvis, the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device. To illustrate one possible control scheme, we apply an assistive frontal plane pelvic moments synchronized with the user’s continuous gait in real-time. Ten healthy adults walked with the robotic device, with and without frontal plane moments. The frontal plane moments corresponded to 10% of the user’s body weight with a moment arm of half their pelvic width. The frontal plane moments significantly increased the range of frontal plane pelvic angles from 2.6° to 9.9° and the sagittal and transverse planes from 4.6° to 10.1° and 3.0° to 8.3°, respectively. The frontal plane moments also significantly increased the activation of the left gluteus medius muscle, which assists in regulating pelvic obliquity. The right gluteus medius muscle activation did not significantly differ when frontal plane moments were applied. This work highlights the ability of the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device to apply a continuous pelvic moment that is synchronized with the user’s gait cycle. This capability could change how overground robotic gait training strategies are designed and applied. The potential for gait training interventions that target gait deficits or muscle weakness can now be explored with the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device.
- 20 October 2022
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
- Vol. 31 (15344320) , 48-57
Open AccessEffects of Timed Frontal Plane Pelvic Moments During Overground Walking With a Mobile TPAD System
Robotic gait training may improve overground ambulation for individuals with poor control over pelvic motion. However, there is a need for an overground gait training robotic device that allows full control of pelvic movement and synchronizes applied forces to the user’s gait. This work evaluates an overground robotic gait trainer that applies synchronized forces on the user’s pelvis, the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device. To illustrate one possible control scheme, we apply an assistive frontal plane pelvic moments synchronized with the user’s continuous gait in real-time. Ten healthy adults walked with the robotic device, with and without frontal plane moments. The frontal plane moments corresponded to 10% of the user’s body weight with a moment arm of half their pelvic width. The frontal plane moments significantly increased the range of frontal plane pelvic angles from 2.6° to 9.9° and the sagittal and transverse planes from 4.6° to 10.1° and 3.0° to 8.3°, respectively. The frontal plane moments also significantly increased the activation of the left gluteus medius muscle, which assists in regulating pelvic obliquity. The right gluteus medius muscle activation did not significantly differ when frontal plane moments were applied. This work highlights the ability of the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device to apply a continuous pelvic moment that is synchronized with the user’s gait cycle. This capability could change how overground robotic gait training strategies are designed and applied. The potential for gait training interventions that target gait deficits or muscle weakness can now be explored with the mobile Tethered Pelvic Assist Device.
- 25 July 2019
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
- Vol. 4 (4) , 4139-4146
Effects of a Person-Following Light-Touch Device During Overground Walking With Visual Perturbations in a Virtual Reality Environment
[Background] Proprioceptive feedback represents an alternative sensory channel that may be stabilizing in both overground gait in a virtual environment, as well as when using an assistive device for overground gait. A person-following robot could potentially provide more useful proprioceptive feedback as compared to conventional assistive devices, like a cane, as the person could maintain continuous contact with the environment with a reduced cognitive load. [Methods] Using a light touch support paradigm, we explore whether a person-following robot could act as a proprioceptive reference point to stabilize overground gait. Twelve healthy subjects completed ten passes across an instrumented walkway in various conditions. These conditions tested the main and interaction effects of walking in a virtual environment, walking in a virtual environment with visual perturbations, and walking with light touch proprioceptive feedback. [Results] The light touch support caused narrower strides in all virtual environment conditions. This decrease in the base of support could indicate an increase in stability from light touch contact. [Significance] This work illustrates that proprioceptive signals from a person-following robot might be used to increase overground stability, even when the user experiences discordant visual feedback.
- 25 July 2019
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters
- Vol. 4 (4) , 4139-4146
Effects of a Person-Following Light-Touch Device During Overground Walking With Visual Perturbations in a Virtual Reality Environment
[Background] Proprioceptive feedback represents an alternative sensory channel that may be stabilizing in both overground gait in a virtual environment, as well as when using an assistive device for overground gait. A person-following robot could potentially provide more useful proprioceptive feedback as compared to conventional assistive devices, like a cane, as the person could maintain continuous contact with the environment with a reduced cognitive load. [Methods] Using a light touch support paradigm, we explore whether a person-following robot could act as a proprioceptive reference point to stabilize overground gait. Twelve healthy subjects completed ten passes across an instrumented walkway in various conditions. These conditions tested the main and interaction effects of walking in a virtual environment, walking in a virtual environment with visual perturbations, and walking with light touch proprioceptive feedback. [Results] The light touch support caused narrower strides in all virtual environment conditions. This decrease in the base of support could indicate an increase in stability from light touch contact. [Significance] This work illustrates that proprioceptive signals from a person-following robot might be used to increase overground stability, even when the user experiences discordant visual feedback.