(Scientific Session) Effect of a Powered Bilateral Hip Exoskeleton on Walking Speed in Chronic Post-stroke Individuals

Background and/or Objectives: Walking speed is the result of a complex interplay (strength, postural control, coordination, proprioception, and vision). Gait speed is commonly used to assess walking ability across the continuum of care after stroke. Reduced walking speed is one of the major limitations in achieving community mobility and reintegration. Developing wearable tools that can help individuals improve walking capacity and speed could be paramount for improving rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life. Biomechanical studies have shown that reduced walking speed is mostly due to lower power generation at the paretic hip and ankle. We have investigated the effects of ankle exoskeletons on walking speed with effectiveness in increasing gait speed, but also posed challenges on how to distribute the device masses on the user’s body. A different approach is to provide additional mechanical power at the hip joint. In an ongoing study we are investigating the impact of a hip exoskeleton on walking speed in individuals with chronic stroke. A portable bilateral Active Pelvis Orthosis (APO) is being evaluated by assessing the impact on overground walking speed and spatiotemporal parameters performance compared to walking with the device in transparent mode or without the device after 6 training sessions. Secondary outcomes included gait kinematics.

Design: Interventional study with pre-post testing

Setting: Tertiary rehabilitation hospital

Participants: Chronic stroke patients

Interventions: Gait training with a hip Active Pelvic Orthosis (APO)

Main Outcome Measures: Self-selected walking g velocity and temporal spatial parameters. secondary outcomes kinematic data

Results: Increase in self-selected walking was evident with APO and after training

Conclusions: APO is simple to use, safe and is able to increase walking velocity immediately after application and after 6 training sessions