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Visch L, Groen BE, Geurts ACH, van Nes IJW, Keijsers NLW. Effect of a soft exosuit on daily life gait performance in people with incomplete spinal cord injury: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2024; 25:592. [PMID: 39242508 PMCID: PMC11378477 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08412-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) often have gait impairments that negatively affect daily life gait performance (i.e., ambulation in the home and community setting) and quality of life. They may benefit from light-weight lower extremity exosuits that assist in walking, such as the Myosuit (MyoSwiss AG, Zurich, Switzerland). A previous pilot study showed that participants with various gait disorders increased their gait speed with the Myosuit in a standardized environment. However, the effect of a soft exosuit on daily life gait performance in people with iSCI has not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE The primary study objective is to test the effect of a soft exosuit (Myosuit) on daily life gait performance in people with iSCI. Second, the effect of Myosuit use on gait capacity and the usability of the Myosuit in the home and community setting will be investigated. Finally, short-term impact on both costs and effects will be evaluated. METHODS This is a two-armed, open label, randomized controlled trial (RCT). Participants will be randomized (1:1) to the intervention group (receiving the Myosuit program) or control group (initially receiving the conventional program). Thirty-four people with chronic iSCI will be included. The Myosuit program consists of five gait training sessions with the Myosuit at the Sint Maartenskliniek. Thereafter, participants will have access to the Myosuit for home use during 6 weeks. The conventional program consists of four gait training sessions, followed by a 6-week home period. After completing the conventional program, participants in the control group will subsequently receive the Myosuit program. The primary outcome is walking time per day as assessed with an activity monitor at baseline and during the first, third, and sixth week of the home periods. Secondary outcomes are gait capacity (10MWT, 6MWT, and SCI-FAP), usability (D-SUS and D-QUEST questionnaires), and costs and effects (EQ-5D-5L). DISCUSSION This is the first RCT to investigate the effect of the Myosuit on daily life gait performance in people with iSCI. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05605912. Registered on November 2, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Visch
- Department of Research, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - B E Groen
- Department of Research, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - A C H Geurts
- Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Rehabilitation, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - I J W van Nes
- Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Rehabilitation, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - N L W Keijsers
- Department of Research, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Sensorimotor Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Rehabilitation, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Luis I, Afschrift M, Gutierrez-Farewik EM. Springs vs. motors: Ideal assistance in the lower limbs during walking at different speeds. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011837. [PMID: 39231195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed breakthroughs in assistive exoskeletons; both passive and active devices have reduced metabolic costs near preferred walking speed by assisting muscle actions. Metabolic reductions at multiple speeds should thus also be attainable. Musculoskeletal simulation can potentially predict the interaction between assistive moments, muscle-tendon mechanics, and walking energetics. In this study, we simulated devices' optimal assistive moments based on minimal muscle activations during walking with prescribed kinematics and dynamics. We used a generic musculoskeletal model with tuned muscle-tendon parameters and computed metabolic rates from muscle actions. We then simulated walking across multiple speeds and with two ideal actuation modes-motor-based and spring-based-to assist ankle plantarflexion, knee extension, hip flexion, and hip abduction and compared computed metabolic rates. We found that both actuation modes considerably reduced physiological joint moments but did not always reduce metabolic rates. Compared to unassisted conditions, motor-based ankle plantarflexion and hip flexion assistance reduced metabolic rates, and this effect was more pronounced as walking speed increased. Spring-based hip flexion and abduction assistance increased metabolic rates at some walking speeds despite a moderate decrease in some muscle activations. Both modes of knee extension assistance reduced metabolic rates to a small extent, even though the actuation contributed with practically the entire net knee extension moment during stance. Motor-based hip abduction assistance reduced metabolic rates more than spring-based assistance, though this reduction was relatively small. Our study also suggests that an assistive strategy based on minimal muscle activations might result in a suboptimal reduction of metabolic rates. Future work should experimentally validate the effects of assistive moments and refine modeling assumptions accordingly. Our computational workflow is freely available online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel Luis
- KTH MoveAbility, Department of Engineering Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maarten Afschrift
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elena M Gutierrez-Farewik
- KTH MoveAbility, Department of Engineering Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Gillespie J, Trammell M, Ochoa C, Driver S, Callender L, Dubiel R, Swank C. Feasibility of overground exoskeleton gait training during inpatient rehabilitation after severe acquired brain injury. Brain Inj 2024; 38:459-466. [PMID: 38369861 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2024.2317259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the safety, feasibility, and tolerability of overground exoskeleton gait training (OEGT) integrated into clinical practice for patients after severe acquired brain injury (ABI). SETTING Inpatient rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS Eligible patients with severe ABI met the following criteria: age > 18, medically stable, met exoskeleton frame limitations, and a score of ≤ 3 on the motor function portion of the Coma Recovery Scale - Revised (CRS-R). Presence of consciousness disorder was not exclusionary. DESIGN Prospective observational study. MAIN MEASURES Outcomes examined safety (adverse events), feasibility (session count and barriers to session completion), and tolerability of OEGT (session metrics and heart rate). RESULTS Ten patients with ABI completed 10.4 ± 4.8 OEGT sessions with no adverse events. Barriers to session completion included clinical focus on prioritized interventions. Sessions [median up time = 17 minutes, (IQR: 7); walk time = 13 minutes, (IQR: 9); step count = 243, (IQR: 161); device assist = 74, (IQR: 28.0)] were primarily spent in Very Light to Light heart rate intensities [89%, (IQR: 42%) and 9%, (IQR: 33%), respectively]. CONCLUSION OEGT incorporated into the rehabilitation plan of care during inpatient rehabilitation after severe ABI was observed to be safe, feasible, and tolerable. However, intentional steps must be taken to facilitate patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Gillespie
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Molly Trammell
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Christa Ochoa
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Simon Driver
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Librada Callender
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Rosemary Dubiel
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Chad Swank
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Cumplido-Trasmonte C, Barquín-Santos E, Gor-García-Fogeda MD, Plaza-Flores A, García-Varela D, Ibáñez-Herrán L, Alted-González C, Díaz-Valles P, López-Pascua C, Castrillo-Calvillo A, Molina-Rueda F, Fernández R, García-Armada E. Modularity Implications of an Overground Exoskeleton on Plantar Pressures, Strength, and Spasticity in Persons with Acquired Brain Injury. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:1435. [PMID: 38474971 DOI: 10.3390/s24051435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
This study explored the effects of a modular overground exoskeleton on plantar pressure distribution in healthy individuals and individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). The research involved 21 participants, including ABI patients and healthy controls, who used a unique exoskeleton with adaptable modular configurations. The primary objective was to assess how these configurations, along with factors such as muscle strength and spasticity, influenced plantar pressure distribution. The results revealed significant differences in plantar pressures among participants, strongly influenced by the exoskeleton's modularity. Notably, significant distinctions were found between ABI patients and healthy individuals. Configurations with two modules led to increased pressure in the heel and central metatarsus regions, whereas configurations with four modules exhibited higher pressures in the metatarsus and hallux regions. Future research should focus on refining and customizing rehabilitation technologies to meet the diverse needs of ABI patients, enhancing their potential for functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Cumplido-Trasmonte
- International Doctoral School, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
- Marsi Bionics SL, 28521 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María Dolores Gor-García-Fogeda
- Marsi Bionics SL, 28521 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Paola Díaz-Valles
- Spanish National Reference Centre for Brain Injury (CEADAC), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Francisco Molina-Rueda
- Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roemi Fernández
- Centre for Automation and Robotics (CAR), CSIC-UPM, Ctra. Campo Real km 0.2-La Poveda-Arganda del Rey, 28500 Madrid, Spain
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FENG X, WANG T, JIANG Y, LIU Y, YANG H, DUAN Z, JI L, WEI J. Cerebral Theta-Burst Stimulation Combined with Physiotherapy in Patients with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. J Rehabil Med 2023; 55:jrm00375. [PMID: 36779636 PMCID: PMC9941982 DOI: 10.2340/jrm.v55.4375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To measure the effects of cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physiotherapy on lower extremity motor recovery in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. DESIGN Randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial. SUBJECTS Adults with incomplete spinal cord injury. METHODS A total of 38 patients with incomplete spinal cord injury were randomized into either an intermittent theta-burst stimulation or a sham group. Both groups participated in physiotherapy 5 times per week for 9 weeks, and cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation or sham intermittent theta-burst stimulation was performed daily, immediately before physiotherapy. The primary outcomes were lower extremity motor score (LEMS), root-mean square (RMS), RMS of the quadriceps femoris muscle, walking speed (WS), and stride length (SL). Secondary outcomes comprised Holden Walking Ability Scale (HWAS) and modified Barthel Index (MBI). The outcomes were assessed before the intervention and 9 weeks after the start of the intervention. RESULTS Nine weeks of cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physiotherapy intervention resulted in improved recovery of lower extremity motor recovery in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Compared with baseline, the changes in LEMS, WS, SL, RMS, HWAS, and MBI were significant in both groups after intervention. The LEMS, WS, SL, RMS, HWAS, and MBI scores were improved more in the intermittent theta-burst stimulation group than in the sham group. CONCLUSION Cerebral intermittent theta-burst stimulation with physiotherapy promotes lower extremity motor recovery in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. However, this study included a small sample size and lacked a comparison of the treatment effects of multiple stimulation modes, the further research will be required in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun FENG
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, Anhui Province,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Fuyang Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Tingting WANG
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Fuyang Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yan JIANG
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
| | - Yi LIU
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
| | - Haifeng YANG
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Fuyang Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Zongyu DUAN
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Fuyang Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Fuyang City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Leilei JI
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
| | - Juan WEI
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
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Chandran VD, Nam S, Hexner D, Bauman WA, Pal S. Comparison of the dynamics of exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted locomotion in an FDA-approved lower extremity device: Controlled experiments and development of a subject-specific virtual simulator. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0270078. [PMID: 36763637 PMCID: PMC9916583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Robotic exoskeletons have considerable, but largely untapped, potential to restore mobility in individuals with neurological disorders, and other conditions that result in partial or complete immobilization. The growing demand for these devices necessitates the development of technology to characterize the human-robot system during exoskeletal-assisted locomotion (EAL) and accelerate robot design refinements. The goal of this study was to combine controlled experiments with computational modeling to build a virtual simulator of EAL. The first objective was to acquire a minimum empirical dataset comprising human-robot kinematics, ground reaction forces, and electromyography during exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted locomotion from an able-bodied participant. The second objective was to quantify the dynamics of the human-robot system using a subject-specific virtual simulator reproducing EAL compared to the dynamics of normal gait. We trained an able-bodied participant to ambulate independently in a Food and Drug Administration-approved exoskeleton, the ReWalk P6.0 (ReWalk Robotics, Yoknaem, Israel). We analyzed the motion of the participant during exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted walking, sit-to-stand, and stand-to-sit maneuvers, with simultaneous measurements of (i) three-dimensional marker trajectories, (ii) ground reaction forces, (iii) electromyography, and (iv) exoskeleton encoder data. We created a virtual simulator in OpenSim, comprising a whole-body musculoskeletal model and a full-scale exoskeleton model, to determine the joint kinematics and moments during exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted maneuvers. Mean peak knee flexion angles of the human subject during exoskeletal-assisted walking were 50.1° ± 0.6° (left) and 52.6° ± 0.7° (right), compared to 68.6° ± 0.3° (left) and 70.7° ± 1.1° (right) during unassisted walking. Mean peak knee extension moments during exoskeletal-assisted walking were 0.10 ± 0.10 Nm/kg (left) and 0.22 ± 0.11 Nm/kg (right), compared to 0.64 ± 0.07 Nm/kg (left) and 0.73 ± 0.10 Nm/kg (right) during unassisted walking. This work provides a foundation for parametric studies to characterize the effects of human and robot design variables, and predictive modeling to optimize human-robot interaction during EAL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishnu D. Chandran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Sanghyun Nam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
| | | | - William A. Bauman
- James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, United States of America
- Department of Medicine and Rehabilitation & Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Saikat Pal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America
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Kinematic Analysis of Exoskeleton-Assisted Community Ambulation: An Observational Study in Outdoor Real-Life Scenarios. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22124533. [PMID: 35746315 PMCID: PMC9228687 DOI: 10.3390/s22124533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: In neurorehabilitation, Wearable Powered Exoskeletons (WPEs) enable intensive gait training even in individuals who are unable to maintain an upright position. The importance of WPEs is not only related to their impact on walking recovery, but also to the possibility of using them as assistive technology; however, WPE-assisted community ambulation has rarely been studied in terms of walking performance in real-life scenarios. (2) Methods: This study proposes the integration of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) system to analyze gait kinematics during real-life outdoor scenarios (regular, irregular terrains, and slopes) by comparing the ecological gait (no-WPE condition) and WPE-assisted gait in five able-bodied volunteers. The temporal parameters of gait and joint angles were calculated from data collected by a network of seven IMUs. (3) Results: The results showed that the WPE-assisted gait had less knee flexion in the stance phase and greater hip flexion in the swing phase. The different scenarios did not change the human–exoskeleton interaction: only the low-speed WPE-assisted gait was characterized by a longer double support phase. (4) Conclusions: The proposed IMU-based gait assessment protocol enabled quantification of the human–exoskeleton interaction in terms of gait kinematics and paved the way for the study of WPE-assisted community ambulation in stroke patients.
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