Evaluating Trunk Control Ability in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury via a Robotic Brace

Evaluating trunk control ability is significant in guiding patients towards proper functional training. Existing assessment techniques are subjective with low resolution, lack multi-dimensional assessment capability, or fail to provide active protection for patients during evaluation. This study proposes a robotic brace, RoboBDsys-II, to assess trunk control ability in multiple dimensions. It is capable of implementing external interventions and providing active protection during evaluation, and collecting kinematic, kinetic, and center of pressure data simultaneously. This reduces the evaluation time and allows for simultaneous evaluation. We recruited 10 patients with spinal cord injury, and assessed their trunk muscle strength, range of motion and resistance ability. The relative and absolute reliability were analyzed by ICC and %SEM, and the validity was examined by the correlation metrics. Results indicate heterogeneity of trunk control abilities for patients with spinal cord injury in different directions, guiding therapists to focus on the areas where the patient's abilities are weak. 10/12 metrics in ROM and resistance assessment exhibit good reliability with high ICC ($>$ 0.75) and low %SEM ($< $ 30%). A positive correlation between the combined metrics of ROM and MVC and clinical scores is revealed. There is a negative correlation between the metrics of resistance ability and clinical scores. The device demonstrates the potential advantages in evaluating trunk control ability, offering a promising tool for improving patient care and rehabilitation.