Biomechanical effects of body weight support with a novel robotic walker for over-ground gait rehabilitation

Abstract

Body weight support (BWS) promotes better functional outcomes for neurologically challenged patients. Despite the established effectiveness of BWS in gait rehabilitation, the findings on biomechanical effects of BWS training still remain contradictory. Therefore, the aim of this study is to comprehensively investigate the effects of BWS. Using a newly developed robotic walker which can facilitate pelvic motions with an active BWS unit, we compared gait parameters of ten healthy subjects during a 10-m walk with incremental levels of body weight unloading, ranging from 0 to 40 % at 10 % intervals. Significant changes in joint angles and gait temporospatial parameters were observed. In addition, the results of an EMG signal study showed that the intensity of muscle activation was significantly reduced with increasing BWS levels. The reduction was found at the ankle, knee, and hip joints in the sagittal plane as well as at the hip joint in the frontal plane. The results of this study provide an important indication of increased lateral body balance and greater stabilization in sagittal and frontal plane during gait. Our findings provide a better understanding of the biomechanical effects of BWS during gait, which will help guide the gait rehabilitation strategies.

Energy Efficiency of Gait Rehabilitation Robot: A Review

“…Besides, the fixed gait pattern makes it difficult to achieve a natural gait [35]. MGRR can help the patient walk on the floor which will be more natural and improve the motivation of the patient [36]. In the process of gait rehabilitation, patients must use more of their residual force to learn and coordinate movements, and use less efforts to neutralize the gravity [37].…”

“…The mechanism of BWS is essential and effective for the gait rehabilitation in terms of temporal-spatial parameters [38]. Furthermore, the safety and falling protection should be ensured during training [36], which is also a big challenge for wearable exoskeleton [39]. Walker systems can maintain mobility and safety [40], and lead to overall reduction of spatial-temporal parameters, without modification in cadence-speed and stride length-speed relationships [41].…”

Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of a Body Weight Support System

“…A height-adjustable saddle was employed in the Pacer Gait Trainers of Rifton Equipment Co., Ltd. to assist gait training [11], and a pneumatic pusher was used to provide mass-offloading. GaitEnable [12], Robotic Walker [13], and Kineassist [14] can provide patients with active BWS and part of passive pelvic motions by using a linear actuator and pelvic brace. e balance assessment robot (BAR) with four linear actuators and interaction force sensors was developed by Olenšek et al [15] to control the pelvic position and orientation.…”

Respostas cinemáticas e eletromiográficas durante suporte parcial de peso em indivíduos saudáveis

“…,k,l,a,e 37(20) k,l,b 29 1727 14Tabela 17: Resultado do efeito principal de velocidade e do efeito principal de suspensão da análise de variância realizada para a atividade de Cocontração entre vasto lateral e bíceps femoral, e Co-contração entre tibial anterior e gastrocnêmio lateral, no momento de contato inicial do tornozelo. GORDON, 2016;FRANZ et al, 2007;HESSE;KONRAD;UHLENBROCK, 1999;LEWEK, 2011;PATINO et al, 2007;SOUSA et al, 2009;THOMAS;DE VITO;MACALUSO, 2007;THRELKELD et al, 2003;TOMATIS;MÜLLER, 2006 BRUIJN, 2016;DONELAN et al, 2004;IJMKER et al, 2013;VENEMAN et al, 2008 WOLF, 2015b;FRANZ et al, 2007;MUN et al, 2017;PATINO et al, 2007;SOUSA et al, 2009;THRELKELD et al, 2003;TOMATIS;MÜLLER, 2006 , 2015a;MUN et al, 2017;PATINO et al, 2007;SOUSA et al, 2009;THRELKELD et al, 2003 , 1999;PATINO et al, 2007;TOMATIS;MÜLLER, 2006;VAN KAMMEN et al, 2014b). ARSENAULT, 1991; HESSE; KONRAD; UHLENBROCK, 1999;…”

“…A diminuição da necessidade de controlar a carga pode ser uma provável causa, ou a modificação do feedback gerado pela força de reação do solo para a colocação do pé (IVANENKO et al, 2002). (FERRIS et al, 2006;HESSE;KONRAD;UHLENBROCK, 1999;MUN et al, 2017;VAN KAMMEN et al, 2014b;WANG, 2008 IVANENKO et al, 2002IVANENKO et al, , 2008.…”