Identification of the Exercise Load When Using a Balance Exercise Assist Robot

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• The Balance Exercise Assist Robot (BEAR) is designed to enhance user balance.
• Quantifying the exercise load during BEAR use is crucial for optimizing training protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the exercise load experienced by individuals using the BEAR for balance training.
• To assess the physiological responses to different activities and difficulty levels on the BEAR.

Main Methods:

• Healthy participants performed balance exercises (tennis, skiing, rodeo) at varying difficulty levels on the BEAR.
• Oxygen consumption (netVO2), metabolic equivalents (METs), and heart rate (HR) were measured using an expiratory gas analyzer.
• Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test.

Main Results:

• Exercise intensity, measured by netVO2 and METs, increased significantly with higher difficulty levels across all activities.
• The rodeo activity demonstrated higher netVO2 and MET values compared to tennis and skiing at comparable levels.
• At the highest difficulty level (40), exercise intensity was significantly greater than at the lowest level (1).

Conclusions:

• The BEAR can be utilized for balance practice, offering a range of exercise intensities.
• The system appears to provide effective balance training without inducing excessive cardiopulmonary stress.
• Activity type and difficulty level significantly influence the physiological demands on users.