Xinyu Guan1, Shengzheng Kuai2,3, Linhong Ji1, Rencheng Wang1, Run Ji4. 1. a Division of Intelligent and Bio-mimetic Machinery, The State Key Laboratory of Tribology , Tsinghua University , China. 2. b Department of Mechanical Engineering , Tsinghua University , China. 3. c Biomechanics and Biotechnology Lab , Research Institute of Tsinghua University in Shenzhen , China. 4. d Human Biomechanics Laboratory, National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids , China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how neurological injured levels of spinal cord affect the performance of patients walking with different un-powered exoskeletons. STUDY DESIGN: Case series observational study. SETTING: Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory at the National Research Center Rehabilitation Technical Aids. METHODS: Electromyography and motion data from two subjects with complete spinal cord injury at T10 and T8 walking with un-powered exoskeletons were collected simultaneously. OUTCOME MEASURES: Surface electromyography of trunk muscles and motion data including joint angle and center of mass (COM). RESULTS: Compared to T10 subject, T8 subject activated trunk muscles in higher levels walking with all tested un-powered exoskeletons and had greater pelvic obliquity walking with reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO) and energy-stored exoskeleton (ES-EXO). ES-EXO can redistribute muscle forces, recruit trunk muscles evenly, increase walking speed and improve COM trajectory in frontal plane. CONCLUSION: This study revealed differences in kinematics and muscle activities in walking with three un-powered exoskeletons between two patients with different neurological injured levels. ES-EXO had advantages over conventional un-powered exoskeletons on recruiting muscles evenly and improving walking speed, step length and COM trajectory.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore how neurological injured levels of spinal cord affect the performance of patients walking with different un-powered exoskeletons. STUDY DESIGN: Case series observational study. SETTING: Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory at the National Research Center Rehabilitation Technical Aids. METHODS: Electromyography and motion data from two subjects with complete spinal cord injury at T10 and T8 walking with un-powered exoskeletons were collected simultaneously. OUTCOME MEASURES: Surface electromyography of trunk muscles and motion data including joint angle and center of mass (COM). RESULTS: Compared to T10 subject, T8 subject activated trunk muscles in higher levels walking with all tested un-powered exoskeletons and had greater pelvic obliquity walking with reciprocating gait orthosis (RGO) and energy-stored exoskeleton (ES-EXO). ES-EXO can redistribute muscle forces, recruit trunk muscles evenly, increase walking speed and improve COM trajectory in frontal plane. CONCLUSION: This study revealed differences in kinematics and muscle activities in walking with three un-powered exoskeletons between two patients with different neurological injured levels. ES-EXO had advantages over conventional un-powered exoskeletons on recruiting muscles evenly and improving walking speed, step length and COM trajectory.
Authors: Allen W Heinemann; Catherine S Wilson; Toby Huston; Jill Koval; Samuel Gordon; Julie Gassaway; Scott E D Kreider; Gale Whiteneck Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 1.985
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