Exploring the Change in Metabolic Cost of Walking before and after Familiarization with a Passive Load-Bearing...

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSMilitary personnel are at greater risk of injuries due to frequent load carriage. Novel exoskeleton technology may have benefits for soldiers, such as reduced physical burden through load carriage support that may result in decreased metabolic cost, reduced fatigue, and lower risk of injuries during walking. However, as for most assistive devices, a familiarization period is likely necessary to obtain the full potential of the device. Our results show that the metabolic cost of walking (MWC) was initially increased significantly upon provision of the passive exoskeleton, though it returned to baseline values after a 9-day familiarization period. The exoskeleton remained effective after a three-month pause, with a MCW below baseline. These results suggest that to properly assess the assistance of an exoskeleton, a sufficient familiarization period should be mandatory.