Nicholas Evans1,2, Clare Hartigan3, Casey Kandilakis3, Elizabeth Pharo1, Ismari Clesson3. 1. Beyond Therapy, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Georgia. 2. Hulse Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Georgia. 3. Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, Georgia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lower extremity robotic exoskeleton technology is being developed with the promise of affording people with spinal cord injury (SCI) the opportunity to stand and walk. The mobility benefits of exoskeleton-assisted walking can be realized immediately, however the cardiorespiratory and metabolic benefits of this technology have not been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the acute cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses associated with exoskeleton-assisted walking overground and to determine the degree to which these responses change at differing walking speeds. METHODS: Five subjects (4 male, 1 female) with chronic SCI (AIS A) volunteered for the study. Expired gases were collected during maximal graded exercise testing and two, 6-minute bouts of exoskeleton-assisted walking overground. Outcome measures included peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak), average oxygen consumption (V̇O2avg), peak heart rate (HRpeak), walking economy, metabolic equivalent of tasks for SCI (METssci), walk speed, and walk distance. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between walk-1 and walk-2 for walk speed, total walk distance, V̇O2avg, and METssci. Exoskeleton-assisted walking resulted in %V̇O2peak range of 51.5% to 63.2%. The metabolic cost of exoskeleton-assisted walking ranged from 3.5 to 4.3 METssci. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with motor-complete SCI may be limited in their capacity to perform physical exercise to the extent needed to improve health and fitness. Based on preliminary data, cardiorespiratory and metabolic demands of exoskeleton-assisted walking are consistent with activities performed at a moderate intensity.
BACKGROUND: Lower extremity robotic exoskeleton technology is being developed with the promise of affording people with spinal cord injury (SCI) the opportunity to stand and walk. The mobility benefits of exoskeleton-assisted walking can be realized immediately, however the cardiorespiratory and metabolic benefits of this technology have not been thoroughly investigated. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the acute cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses associated with exoskeleton-assisted walking overground and to determine the degree to which these responses change at differing walking speeds. METHODS: Five subjects (4 male, 1 female) with chronic SCI (AIS A) volunteered for the study. Expired gases were collected during maximal graded exercise testing and two, 6-minute bouts of exoskeleton-assisted walking overground. Outcome measures included peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak), average oxygen consumption (V̇O2avg), peak heart rate (HRpeak), walking economy, metabolic equivalent of tasks for SCI (METssci), walk speed, and walk distance. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between walk-1 and walk-2 for walk speed, total walk distance, V̇O2avg, and METssci. Exoskeleton-assisted walking resulted in %V̇O2peak range of 51.5% to 63.2%. The metabolic cost of exoskeleton-assisted walking ranged from 3.5 to 4.3 METssci. CONCLUSIONS:Persons with motor-complete SCI may be limited in their capacity to perform physical exercise to the extent needed to improve health and fitness. Based on preliminary data, cardiorespiratory and metabolic demands of exoskeleton-assisted walking are consistent with activities performed at a moderate intensity.
Authors: Ryan J Farris; Hugo A Quintero; Spencer A Murray; Kevin H Ha; Clare Hartigan; Michael Goldfarb Journal: IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng Date: 2013-06-18 Impact factor: 3.802
Authors: Carol Ewing Garber; Bryan Blissmer; Michael R Deschenes; Barry A Franklin; Michael J Lamonte; I-Min Lee; David C Nieman; David P Swain Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2011-07 Impact factor: 5.411
Authors: Eileen G Collins; David Gater; Jenny Kiratli; Jolene Butler; Karla Hanson; W Edwin Langbein Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 5.411
Authors: W T Phillips; B J Kiratli; M Sarkarati; G Weraarchakul; J Myers; B A Franklin; I Parkash; V Froelicher Journal: Curr Probl Cardiol Date: 1998-11 Impact factor: 5.200
Authors: Andrew D Delgado; Miguel X Escalon; Thomas N Bryce; William Weinrauch; Stephanie J Suarez; Allan J Kozlowski Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2019-10-11 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Pierre K Asselin; Manuel Avedissian; Steven Knezevic; Stephen Kornfeld; Ann M Spungen Journal: J Vis Exp Date: 2016-06-16 Impact factor: 1.355
Authors: Xiao-Na Xiang; Hui-Yan Zong; Yi Ou; Xi Yu; Hong Cheng; Chun-Ping Du; Hong-Chen He Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2021-05-24 Impact factor: 4.262