Louis N Awad1, Jaehyun Bae, Pawel Kudzia, Andrew Long, Kathryn Hendron, Kenneth G Holt, Kathleen OʼDonnell, Terry D Ellis, Conor J Walsh. 1. From the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts (LNA, JB, PK, AL, KO, CJW); Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (LNA, JB, AL, CJW); and Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts (LNA, KH, KGH, TDE).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on common poststroke gait compensations of a soft wearable robot (exosuit) designed to assist the paretic limb during hemiparetic walking. DESIGN: A single-session study of eight individuals in the chronic phase of stroke recovery was conducted. Two testing conditions were compared: walking with the exosuit powered versus walking with the exosuit unpowered. Each condition was 8 minutes in duration. RESULTS: Compared with walking with the exosuit unpowered, walking with the exosuit powered resulted in reductions in hip hiking (27 [6%], P = 0.004) and circumduction (20 [5%], P = 0.004). A relationship between changes in knee flexion and changes in hip hiking was observed (Pearson r = -0.913, P < 0.001). Similarly, multivariate regression revealed that changes in knee flexion (β = -0.912, P = 0.007), but not ankle dorsiflexion (β = -0.194, P = 0.341), independently predicted changes in hip hiking (R = 0.87, F(2, 4) = 13.48, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Exosuit assistance of the paretic limb during walking produces immediate changes in the kinematic strategy used to advance the paretic limb. Future work is necessary to determine how exosuit-induced reductions in paretic hip hiking and circumduction during gait training could be leveraged to facilitate more normal walking behavior during unassisted walking.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects on common poststroke gait compensations of a soft wearable robot (exosuit) designed to assist the paretic limb during hemiparetic walking. DESIGN: A single-session study of eight individuals in the chronic phase of stroke recovery was conducted. Two testing conditions were compared: walking with the exosuit powered versus walking with the exosuit unpowered. Each condition was 8 minutes in duration. RESULTS: Compared with walking with the exosuit unpowered, walking with the exosuit powered resulted in reductions in hip hiking (27 [6%], P = 0.004) and circumduction (20 [5%], P = 0.004). A relationship between changes in knee flexion and changes in hip hiking was observed (Pearson r = -0.913, P < 0.001). Similarly, multivariate regression revealed that changes in knee flexion (β = -0.912, P = 0.007), but not ankle dorsiflexion (β = -0.194, P = 0.341), independently predicted changes in hip hiking (R = 0.87, F(2, 4) = 13.48, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Exosuit assistance of the paretic limb during walking produces immediate changes in the kinematic strategy used to advance the paretic limb. Future work is necessary to determine how exosuit-induced reductions in paretic hip hiking and circumduction during gait training could be leveraged to facilitate more normal walking behavior during unassisted walking.
Authors: Jaehyun Bae; Louis N Awad; Andrew Long; Kathleen O'Donnell; Katy Hendron; Kenneth G Holt; Terry D Ellis; Conor J Walsh Journal: J Exp Biol Date: 2018-03-07 Impact factor: 3.312
Authors: Julio Salvador Lora-Millan; Francisco José Sanchez-Cuesta; Juan Pablo Romero; Juan C Moreno; Eduardo Rocon Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2022-10-08 Impact factor: 5.208