Targeting Paretic Propulsion and Walking Speed With a Soft Robotic Exosuit: A Consideration-of-Concept Trial.
Front Neurorobot
; 15: 689577, 2021.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34393750
ABSTRACT
Background:
Soft robotic exosuits can facilitate immediate increases in short- and long-distance walking speeds in people with post-stroke hemiparesis. We sought to assess the feasibility and rehabilitative potential of applying propulsion-augmenting exosuits as part of an individualized and progressive training program to retrain faster walking and the underlying propulsive strategy.Methods:
A 54-yr old male with chronic hemiparesis completed five daily sessions of Robotic Exosuit Augmented Locomotion (REAL) gait training. REAL training consists of high-intensity, task-specific, and progressively challenging walking practice augmented by a soft robotic exosuit and is designed to facilitate faster walking by way of increased paretic propulsion. Repeated baseline assessments of comfortable walking speed over a 2-year period provided a stable baseline from which the effects of REAL training could be elucidated. Additional outcomes included paretic propulsion, maximum walking speed, and 6-minute walk test distance.Results:
Comfortable walking speed was stable at 0.96 m/s prior to training and increased by 0.30 m/s after training. Clinically meaningful increases in maximum walking speed (Δ 0.30 m/s) and 6-minute walk test distance (Δ 59 m) were similarly observed. Improvements in paretic peak propulsion (Δ 2.80 %BW), propulsive power (Δ 0.41 W/kg), and trailing limb angle (Δ 6.2 degrees) were observed at comfortable walking speed (p's < 0.05). Likewise, improvements in paretic peak propulsion (Δ 4.63 %BW) and trailing limb angle (Δ 4.30 degrees) were observed at maximum walking speed (p's < 0.05).Conclusions:
The REAL training program is feasible to implement after stroke and capable of facilitating rapid and meaningful improvements in paretic propulsion, walking speed, and walking distance.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article