Mechanisms for improving walking speed after longitudinal powered robotic exoskeleton training for individuals with spinal cord injury

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2018 Jul:2018:2805-2808. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2018.8512821.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to establish strideparameter gait models correlated to speed on individuals with chronic SCI and able-bodied controls walking with a powered robotic exoskeleton (EksoGT $^{\mathrm{ TM}}$). Longitudinal exoskeleton training $( >100$ hours) across eight individuals with SCI resulted in a 30% increase in walking speed. A simple linear regression between step length, stride length for given speed were very tightly correlated along a line of best fit $( \mathrm {p}<$.001). The temporal parameters of stride time, stance time and double support time depicted a non-linear exponentially decaying relationship for given walking speed. The research findings indicate that although longitudinal exoskeleton training reduces the temporal parameters, increases in spatial parameters are only marginal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Exoskeleton Device*
  • Humans
  • Spinal Cord Injuries*
  • Walking Speed