Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
08:24
Sit-to-stand-and-walk from 120% Knee Height: A Novel Approach to Assess Dynamic Postural Control Independent of Lead-limb
Published on: August 30, 2016
10.3K
Passive Exoskeleton-Assisted Gait Shows a Unique Interlimb Coordination Signature Without Restricting Regular Walking
Takashi Sado1, Zachary Motz1, Jennifer M Yentes2
1Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, United States.
Frontiers in Physiology
|June 30, 2022
Summary
Exoskeleton assistive devices reduce inter-limb coordination duration and synchrony in healthy individuals. This suggests exoskeletons may promote more flexible and explorative gait patterns, beneficial for rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Robotics
- Rehabilitation Engineering
Background:
- Exoskeleton assistive devices aim to improve gait deficits.
- Their impact on inter-limb coordination remains unclear.
- Understanding coordination is crucial for effective rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of passive exoskeleton assistance on gait inter-limb coordination.
- To investigate changes in coordination duration and synchrony.
- To determine if exoskeleton use leads to more explorative gait.
Main Methods:
- Cross-recurrence quantification analysis (CRQA) for coordination duration.
- Cross sample entropy (CoSE) for coordination synchrony.
- Comparison between exoskeleton (EXO) and no exoskeleton (NO EXO) walking in healthy young adults.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in spatiotemporal gait parameters.
- Reduced duration of inter-limb coordination in the EXO group (p < 0.01).
- Reduced synchrony of inter-limb coordination in the EXO group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Exoskeletal-assisted gait exhibits decreased inter-limb coordination.
- This reduction may facilitate more explorative and flexible gait patterns.
- Findings are relevant for gait rehabilitation of patients with coordination deficits.
