A Proof of Principle Study Conducted by Community-Dwelling Seniors Using a Novel Passive Gait Assist System
Source abstract
Abstract
It is vital for rehabilitating patients to perform as many task-related exercises as possible. These patients often need either force or trajectory assistance in order to perform gait. While this can be provided in the form of traditional gait rehabilitation or currently emerging robot-assisted gait training, there is a need for an affordable means to assist gait training. In this study, we present a passive gait assistance device that is composed of a spring-bar system attached to an elastic cord and a specialized shoe. The shoe has two straps attached such that both plantar and dorsiflexion torque can be applied to the user depending on the angle of the pulling force. The merit of the devices is that it is an affordable means to provide the user with gait assistance while allowing some freedom of one’s foot movement. We show that, with 20 community-dwelling seniors, our system successfully produces plantar flexion and dorsiflexion torque according to the gait cycle. Furthermore, electromyography analysis suggests that plantar flexor demand during the late stance phase and dorsiflexor demand during the swing phase are significantly reduced.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Robotics · Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders · Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul 08308, Republic of Korea
Funding
Korean government · Korea University
References (43)
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