Physiological evaluation of different control modes of lower limb robotic exoskeleton h2 in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury

Abstract

Gait rehabilitation robots are of increasing importance in neurorehabilitation. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of Exo-H2 on metabolic cost in patients with incomplete SCI while walking with two control modes, compared with unassisted walking. Three patients with incomplete SCI participated in the study and three walking tests were conducted in randomized order with two control modes and unassisted gait while recording the oxygen consumption and prior and after blood pressure, heart rate, VAS of pain and fatigue was obtained. As conclusion, our results suggest that the gait robotic assistance with Exo-H2 is more physiological when is selected compliant mode.