Walking faster and farther with a soft robotic exosuit: Implications for post-stroke gait assistance and rehabilitation

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Abstract

Objective: Soft robotic exosuits can improve the mechanics and energetics of walking after stroke. Building on this prior work, we evaluated the effects of the first prototype of a portable soft robotic exosuit. Methods: Exosuit-induced changes in the overground walking speed, distance, and energy expenditure of individuals post-stroke were evaluated statistically and compared to minimal clinically important difference scores. Results: Compared to walking without the exosuit worn, the <5 kg exosuit did not substantially modify speed, distance, or energy expenditure when worn unpowered. In contrast, when powered on to provide an average 22.87 ± 0.58 %bodyweight of paretic plantarflexor force assistance during stance phase and assist the paretic dorsiflexors during swing phase to reduce drop-foot, study participants walked a median 0.14±0.06 m/s faster during the 10-meter walk test and traveled 32 ±8mfarther during the six minute walk test (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Individuals post-stroke can leverage the paretic plantarflexor and dorsiflexor assistance provided by soft robotic exosuits to achieve clinically-meaningful increases in speed and distance.

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APA

Awad, L. N., Kudzia, P., Revi, D. A., Ellis, T. D., & Walsh, C. J. (2020). Walking faster and farther with a soft robotic exosuit: Implications for post-stroke gait assistance and rehabilitation. IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology, 1, 108–115. https://doi.org/10.1109/OJEMB.2020.2984429

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