Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 2, 2026
Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
User-centred assistive technology assessment of a portable open-area body weight support system for in-home use
Elena Kokkoni1,2, James Cole Galloway2
1Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
Insights
This study found that a portable body weight support system (PBWSS) is feasible for in-home use by infants and their parents. The device supports early, high-dose mobility and was well-received, with parents reporting positive behavioral changes in their infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation technology
- Assistive devices for infant mobility
- Community-based assistive technology
Background:
- Current pediatric mobility technology is limited in supporting early, high-dose, and variable movement outside clinical settings.
- Parental acceptance is crucial for the sustained use of assistive devices by infants.
- There is a need for accessible, in-home solutions to enhance infant mobility development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of an in-home application of a novel portable body weight support system (PBWSS).
- To assess parent and infant interaction and satisfaction with the PBWSS in a community setting.
- To gather parent feedback for future device modifications.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen typically and atypically developing infants participated in four home and lab sessions using the PBWSS.
- Parents assisted with system setup and completed questionnaires on infant behavior, enjoyment, satisfaction, and device usability.
- Data collected included infant performance and parent perceptions of the device.
Main Results:
- Parents and infants successfully utilized the PBWSS across various activities in the home environment.
- Parents reported positive infant behavioral changes, including novel behavior initiation.
- Parents found the device easy to set up and use, expressing satisfaction and recommending comfort improvements.
Conclusions:
- The in-home application of the PBWSS is feasible and supports early, enriched, high-dose mobility for infants.
- Parent and infant engagement and positive perceptions indicate the potential of this technology for real-world environments.
- Preliminary findings support the device's successful implementation, usability, and positive impact on infant behavior, paving the way for further pediatric population studies.
Purpose:
Current paediatric technology lacks mobility devices that support early, high-dose and variable movement that can be managed by professionals and parents outside of the lab or clinic. Parent acceptability of the technology is a critical piece to the continued use of devices by their infants. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of feasibility of an in-home application of a novel portable body weight support system (PBWSS), designed for community use.
Method:
Sixteen typically and atypically developing infants used the system for four sessions at the home and lab. Parents assisted with the in-home system setup and completed a questionnaire on their: (a) infant's behavioural change, (b) infant's enjoyment, (c) own satisfaction, need and predicted use of the device, and (d) recommendations for future modifications.
Results:
Parents and their infants successfully used the device during a wide range of activities. Parents noted positive changes in their infants' behaviour including their infants initiating certain behaviours for the first time. Parents quickly learned to setup and use the device and were satisfied with its current structure. Future modifications included increasing the wearable harness comfort.
Conclusion:
Infant performance and parent perceptions support the development of devices that place body-weight supported activity in real-world environments to promote high-dose, enriched experiences for young infants with mobility challenges.Implications for rehabilitationAssistive technology that can support multiple aspects of mobility in developing infants is limited.The in-home application of open-area body weight support systems has the potential to support early, enriched, high-dose mobility.Users of this technology, infants and their parents, were meaningfully involved throughout the assessment process.Preliminary findings support that: (1) this device was successfully implemented in these homes, (2) parents and infants enjoyed using the device, (3) parents noted positive changes in their infant's behavior, and (4) parents perceived the device to be safe and easy to use.Future studies can now determine the optimal use of this device with a range of pediatric populations.
