Background: Crutches are the most common walking aids prescribed to improve mobility in subjects with central nervous system (CNS) lesions. To increase adherence to the appropriate level of crutch usage, providing load-related auditory feedback (aFB) may be a useful approach. We sensorized forearm crutches and developed a custom software to provide aFB information to both user and physical therapist (PhT).Aim: Evaluate aFB effects on load control during gait by a self-controlled case series trial.Methods: A single experimental session was conducted enrolling 12 CNS lesioned participants. Load on crutch was recorded during 10 Meter Walk Test performed with and without aFB. In both cases, crutch load data, and gait speed were recorded. Usability and satisfaction questionnaires were administered to participants and PhTs involved.Results: Reliable data were obtained from eight participants. Results showed that compared to the no FB condition, aFB yielded a significant reduction in the mean load on the crutches during gait (p = 0.001). The FB did not influence gait speed or fatigue (p > 0.05). The experience questionnaire data indicated a positive experience regarding the use of aFB from both participants' and PhTs' perspectives.Conclusion: aFB significantly improves compliance with crutch use and does not affect gait speed or fatigue by improving the load placed on crutches. The FB is perceived by users as helpful, safe, and easy to learn, and does not interfere with attention or concentration while walking. Furthermore, the PhTs consider the system to be useful, easy to learn and reliable.
Despite being able to derive quantitative data on motor performance, rehabilitation robots typically do not provide information on users' subjective experience, and in particular on their psychophysiological state. The aim of this work was the development of a method for the psychophysiological assessment of users whose treadmill walking is assisted by a lower limb exoskeleton. Four indicators were estimated based on physiological data by using a Fuzzy logic approach. The assessment of human-exoskeleton interaction was performed on a group of four healthy participants and the correlation between different pairs of indicators was evaluated.
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