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Gait adaptation to asymmetric hip stiffness applied by a robotic exoskeleton.
- Source :
-
BioRxiv : the preprint server for biology [bioRxiv] 2023 Oct 10. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Oct 10. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Wearable exoskeletons show significant potential for improving gait impairments, such as interlimb asymmetry. However, a more profound understanding of whether exoskeletons are capable of eliciting neural adaptation is needed. This study aimed to characterize how individuals adapt to bilateral asymmetric joint stiffness applied by a hip exoskeleton, similar to split-belt treadmill training. Thirteen unimpaired individuals performed a walking trial on the treadmill while wearing the exoskeleton. The right side of the exoskeleton acted as a positive stiffness torsional spring, pulling the thigh towards the neutral standing position, while the left acted as a negative stiffness spring pulling the thigh away from the neutral standing position. The results showed that this intervention applied by a hip exoskeleton elicited adaptation in spatiotemporal and kinetic gait measures similar to split-belt treadmill training. These results demonstrate the potential of the proposed intervention for retraining symmetric gait.
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
- Accession number :
- 37873204
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.10.561679