Assistive devices for human mobility and gait rehabilitation

Abstract

Mobility is one of the most important human faculties and can be defined as the ability of an individual to move freely through multiple environments and perform daily personal tasks with ease (D.A. Winter, Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement, Wiley, Hoboken, 2009, [1]). Neurological and age-related diseases affect human mobility at different levels causing partial or total loss of such faculty. In addition, mobility decreases gradually with age. Evidences show that mobility restrictions are also associated with cognitive and psychosocial disturbances, which further impairs the quality of life of the individual (A.S. Buchman et al., Cognitive function is associated with the development of mobility impairments in community-dwelling elders. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatr. 190(6):571-580, 2011, [2]). In this context, new technologies have emerged to improve the life conditions of people with motor impairments. Some remarks regarding the human locomotor system, mobility dysfunctions, assistive devices for enhancing mobility, functional compensation during walking and devices for gait rehabilitation will be presented in this chapter.