Loading...
Cuff pressure algometry in patients with chronic pain as guidance for circumferential tissue compression for wearable soft exoskeletons: a systematic review
Date
2018
Abstract
In this article, we report on a systematic review of the literature on pressure-pain thresholds induced and assessed by computerized cuff pressure algometry (CPA). The motivation for this review is to provide design guidance on pressure levels for wearable soft exoskeletons and similar wearable robotics devices. In our review, we focus on CPA studies of patients who are candidates for wearable soft exoskeletons, as pain-related physiological mechanisms reportedly differ significantly between healthy subjects and patients with chronic pain. The results indicate that circumferential limb compression in patients most likely becomes painful at approximately 10-18 kPa, and can become unbearable even below 25 kPa. The corresponding ranges for healthy control subjects are 20-42 kPa (painful limits) and 34-84 kPa (unbearable levels). Also, the increase of pain with time tends to be significantly higher, and the adaptation to pain significantly lower, than in healthy subjects. The results of this review provide guidance to designers of wearable robotics for populations with chronic pain regarding rates and magnitudes of tissue compression that may be unacceptable to users.
Supervisor
Description
peer-reviewed
Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Citation
Soft Robotics;5 (5), p. 497-511
Files
Loading...
OSullivan_2018_Cuff.pdf
Adobe PDF, 1.29 MB
ULRR Identifiers
Funding code
Funding Information
European Research Council (ERC)