Publication Date
2024
Journal or Book Title
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering
Abstract
Wearable exoskeletons show significant potential for improving gait impairments, such as interlimb asymmetry. However, a more profound understanding of whether exoskeletons are capable of eliciting neural adaptation is needed. This study aimed to characterize how individuals adapt to bilateral asymmetric joint stiffness applied by a hip exoskeleton, similar to split-belt treadmill training. Thirteen unimpaired individuals performed a walking trial on the treadmill while wearing the exoskeleton. The right side of the exoskeleton acted as a positive stiffness torsional spring, pulling the thigh towards the neutral standing position, while the left acted as a negative stiffness spring pulling the thigh away from the neutral standing position. The results showed that this intervention applied by a hip exoskeleton elicited adaptation in spatiotemporal and kinetic gait measures similar to split-belt treadmill training. These results demonstrate the potential of the proposed intervention for retraining symmetric gait.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSRE.2024.3354517
Pages
791-799
Volume
32
License
UMass Amherst Open Access Policy
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Abdikadirova, Banu; Price, Mark; Jaramillo, Jonaz Moreno; Hoogkamer, Wouter; and Huber, Meghan E., "Gait Adaptation to Asymmetric Hip Stiffness Applied by a Robotic Exoskeleton" (2024). IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering. 604.
https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSRE.2024.3354517