Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults
AbstractBackgroundAge-related deficits in plantar flexor muscle function during the push-off phase of walking likely contribute to the decline in mobility that affects many older adults. New mobility aids and/or functional training interventions may help slow or prevent ambulatory decline in the eld...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Wearable Technologies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717622000123/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811155713461846016 |
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| author | Ying Fang Karl Harshe Jason R. Franz Zachary F. Lerner |
| author_facet | Ying Fang Karl Harshe Jason R. Franz Zachary F. Lerner |
| author_sort | Ying Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AbstractBackgroundAge-related deficits in plantar flexor muscle function during the push-off phase of walking likely contribute to the decline in mobility that affects many older adults. New mobility aids and/or functional training interventions may help slow or prevent ambulatory decline in the elderly.ObjectiveThe overarching objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of using an untethered, dual-mode ankle exoskeleton as a mobility aid to reduce energy consumption, and as a resistive gait training tool to facilitate functional recruitment of the plantar flexor muscles.MethodsWe recruited six older adults (68–83 years old) to evaluate acute metabolic and neuromuscular adaption to ankle exoskeleton assistance and to evaluate the potential for ankle resistance with biofeedback to facilitate utilization of the ankle plantar flexors. We also conducted a 12-session ankle resistance training protocol with one pilot participant.ResultsParticipants reached the lowest net metabolic power and soleus integrated electromyography (iEMG) at 6.6 ± 1.6 and 5.8 ± 4.9 min, respectively, during the 30-min exoskeleton assistance adaptation trial. Four of five participants exhibited a reduction (up to 19%) in metabolic power during walking with assistance. Resistance increased stance-phase soleus iEMG by 18–186% and stance-phase average positive ankle power by 9–88%. Following ankle resistance gait training, the participant exhibited increased walking speed, endurance, and strength.ConclusionsOur results suggest that dual-mode ankle exoskeletons appear highly applicable to treating plantar flexor dysfunction in the elderly, with assistance holding potential as a mobility aid and resistance holding potential as a functional gait training tool. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:39:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbb3ca9581e24d28b7093fb0cd3514cf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2631-7176 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:39:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wearable Technologies |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbb3ca9581e24d28b7093fb0cd3514cf2023-03-09T12:43:52ZengCambridge University PressWearable Technologies2631-71762022-01-01310.1017/wtc.2022.12Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adultsYing Fang0Karl Harshe1Jason R. Franz2Zachary F. Lerner3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7359-436XDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USAJoint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA College of Medicine – Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USAAbstractBackgroundAge-related deficits in plantar flexor muscle function during the push-off phase of walking likely contribute to the decline in mobility that affects many older adults. New mobility aids and/or functional training interventions may help slow or prevent ambulatory decline in the elderly.ObjectiveThe overarching objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of using an untethered, dual-mode ankle exoskeleton as a mobility aid to reduce energy consumption, and as a resistive gait training tool to facilitate functional recruitment of the plantar flexor muscles.MethodsWe recruited six older adults (68–83 years old) to evaluate acute metabolic and neuromuscular adaption to ankle exoskeleton assistance and to evaluate the potential for ankle resistance with biofeedback to facilitate utilization of the ankle plantar flexors. We also conducted a 12-session ankle resistance training protocol with one pilot participant.ResultsParticipants reached the lowest net metabolic power and soleus integrated electromyography (iEMG) at 6.6 ± 1.6 and 5.8 ± 4.9 min, respectively, during the 30-min exoskeleton assistance adaptation trial. Four of five participants exhibited a reduction (up to 19%) in metabolic power during walking with assistance. Resistance increased stance-phase soleus iEMG by 18–186% and stance-phase average positive ankle power by 9–88%. Following ankle resistance gait training, the participant exhibited increased walking speed, endurance, and strength.ConclusionsOur results suggest that dual-mode ankle exoskeletons appear highly applicable to treating plantar flexor dysfunction in the elderly, with assistance holding potential as a mobility aid and resistance holding potential as a functional gait training tool.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717622000123/type/journal_articleanklebalanceelderlyexoskeletonmobilityrehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Ying Fang Karl Harshe Jason R. Franz Zachary F. Lerner Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults Wearable Technologies ankle balance elderly exoskeleton mobility rehabilitation |
| title | Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults |
| title_full | Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults |
| title_short | Feasibility evaluation of a dual-mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults |
| title_sort | feasibility evaluation of a dual mode ankle exoskeleton to assist and restore community ambulation in older adults |
| topic | ankle balance elderly exoskeleton mobility rehabilitation |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717622000123/type/journal_article |
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