bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.10.10.561679
Gait adaptation to asymmetric hip stiffness applied by a robotic exoskeleton
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.
Source connections
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Abdikadirova, B., Price, M., Moreno Jaramillo, J., Hoogkamer, W., Huber, M. E.. 2023-10-10. Gait adaptation to asymmetric hip stiffness applied by a robotic exoskeleton. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.10.561679
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.