The ability to walk contributes considerably physical health and overall well-being, particularly in children with motor disability, is therefore prioritized as a rehabilitation goal. However, half of ambulatory cerebral palsy (CP), the most prevalent childhood movement disorder, cease adulthood. Robotic gait trainers have shown positive outcomes initial studies, but these clinic-based systems are limited short-term programs insufficient length maintain improved function lifelong disability...

Crouch gait, a pathological pattern of walking characterized by excessive knee flexion, is one the most common gait disorders observed in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Effective treatment crouch during childhood critical to maintain mobility into adulthood, yet current interventions do not adequately alleviate individuals. Powered exoskeletons provide an untapped opportunity for intervention. The multiple contributors crouch, including spasticity, contracture, muscle weakness, and poor...

The high energy cost of walking in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) contributes significantly to reduced mobility and quality life. purpose this paper was develop clinically evaluate an untethered ankle exoskeleton the ability reduce metabolic children young adults gait pathology from CP. We designed a battery-powered device consisting actuator-and-control module worn above waist Bowden cable transmission used provide torque pulleys aligned ankle. Special consideration made minimize...

Individuals with neuromuscular impairment from conditions like cerebral palsy face reduced quality of life due to diminishing mobility and independence. Lower-limb exoskeletons have potential aid mobility, yet few studies investigated their use during over-ground walking - an exercise that may contribute our understanding benefit in free-living settings. The goal this study was determine the for adaptive plantar-flexor assistance untethered ankle exoskeleton improve economy speed. Six...

Lower-limb exoskeletons used to improve free-living mobility for individuals with neuromuscular impairment must be controlled prescribe assistance that adapts the diverse locomotor conditions encountered during daily life, including walking at different speeds and across varied terrain. The goal of this paper is design establish clinical feasibility an ankle exoskeleton control strategy instantly appropriately adjusts changing biomechanical demand variable walking. To accomplish goal, we...

Ankle exoskeletons can improve walking mechanics and energetics, but few untethered devices have demonstrated improved performance usability across a wide range of users terrains. Our goal was to design validate lightweight ankle exoskeleton that effective moderate-to-high intensity ambulation in children through adults with without impairment.

ABSTRACT We determined if slow, uphill walking (0.75 m/s, 6°) reduced tibiofemoral (TF) loading compared to faster, level (1.50 m/s) in obese and nonobese adults. collected kinematic, kinetic, electromyographic data as 9 moderately 10 participants walked on a dual‐belt instrumented treadmill. used OpenSim scale musculoskeletal model calculate joint kinematics, kinetics, muscle forces, TF forces. Compressive forces were greater the adults during both speed/grade combinations. During walking,...

Net muscle moments (NMMs) have been used as proxy measures of joint loading, but musculoskeletal models can estimate contact forces within joints. The purpose this study was to use a model tibiofemoral and examine the relationship between NMMs across walking speeds. We collected kinematic, kinetic, electromyographic data ten adult participants walked on dual-belt force-measuring treadmill at 0.75, 1.25, 1.50 m/s. scaled each participant OpenSim calculate through inverse dynamics weighted...

Abstract Individuals with cerebral palsy often exhibit crouch gait, a debilitating and inefficient walking pattern marked by excessive knee flexion that worsens age. To address the need for improved treatment, we sought to evaluate if providing external extension assistance could reduce burden placed on extensor muscles as measured moments. We evaluated novel pediatric exoskeleton designed provide appropriately-timed torque joint during in multi-week exploratory clinical study. Seven...

Ankle exoskeletons hold potential to augment human walking ability, yet their use in free-living environments has been limited by the absence of practical and effective control strategies that can appropriately adapt variable terrain. To address this challenge, we derived a novel analytical ankle joint moment estimation model using custom wearable sensors developed an exoskeleton scheme assistance proportional biological plantar-flexor real-time for unimpaired individuals with disabilities...

Powered ankle exoskeletons with biofeedback systems have proven effective at improving plantar flexor muscle recruitment and push-off power in individuals cerebral palsy (CP). However, their clinical translation feasibility for at-home training remain limited. This study sought to design an unpowered wearable device spring resistance combined a gamified system. Our primary goal was validate the device's ability increase relative baseline, ensure that these improvements were comparable those...

The accuracy of muscle and joint contact forces (JCF) estimated from dynamic musculoskeletal simulations is dependent upon the experimental kinematic data used as inputs. Subcutaneous adipose tissue makes measurement representative kinematics motion analysis particularly challenging in overweight obese individuals.The purpose this study was to develop an obesity-specific marker set/methodology that accounted for subcutaneous adiposity determine effect using such a methodology estimate JCF...

Most people with cerebral palsy (CP) suffer from impaired walking ability and pathological gait patterns. Seeking to improve the effectiveness of training in this patient population, study developed assessed feasibility a real-time biofeedback mechanism augment untethered ankle exoskeleton-assisted performance individuals CP. We selected step length as clinically-relevant target utilized visual interface live scores. An adaptive exoskeleton control algorithm provided assistance proportional...

ABSTRACT With the high prevalence of pediatric obesity there is a need for structured physical activity during childhood. However, altered tibiofemoral loading in obese children likely contribute to their increased risk orthopedic disorders knee. The goal this study was determine effects and walking duration on medial lateral contact forces. We collected experimental biomechanics data treadmill at 1 m•s −1 20 min 10 healthy‐weight 8–12 year‐olds. created subject‐specific musculoskeletal...

To determine the efficacy of wearable adaptive resistance training for rapidly improving walking ability in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Many individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) experience gait deficits resulting in metabolically-inefficient ambulation that is exacerbated by graded walking terrains. The primary goal of this study was to clinically-validate the accuracy and efficacy adaptive ankle exoskeleton assistance during steady-state incline stair ascent CP. Exploratory goals were assess safety feasibility using real-world mixed-terrain settings.We used a novel battery-powered provide plantar-flexor stance phase. Seven...