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Simulating Muscle-Level Energetic Cost When Humans Walk With a Passive Biarticular Thigh Exosuit
Summary
Passive exosuits can reduce walking energy costs, but individual responses vary. This study used simulations to reveal how rectus femoris (RF) and hamstring (HAM) springs in an exosuit affect muscle effort, aiding personalized device design.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human-computer interaction
- Robotics
Background:
- Passive exosuits show promise for reducing walking metabolic cost.
- Evaluating exosuit effectiveness is hindered by challenges in measuring internal biomechanics and muscle energetics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the metabolic effects of the BATEX passive biarticular thigh exosuit.
- To use EMG-informed musculoskeletal simulations to analyze muscle-level behavior and energetic responses.
- To compare responses between individuals who benefit (positive responders) and those who do not (negative responders).
Main Methods:
- Combined experimental data from ten healthy adults walking on a treadmill with various exosuit conditions.
- Employed EMG-informed musculoskeletal simulations to estimate muscle-level behavior.
- Analyzed muscle-tendon energetic responses and compared positive responders (PR) with negative responders (NR).
Main Results:
- Simulations successfully replicated whole-body metabolic cost trends for most participants (8/10).
- Significant metabolic savings were observed primarily during the swing phase.
- Muscle-level analysis revealed distinct effects of rectus femoris (RF) and hamstring (HAM) springs, with differing responses between PR and NR groups.
Conclusions:
- Passive exosuit effectiveness varies, necessitating personalized device design.
- Insights into muscle-level energy-saving mechanisms (RF: reduced activation; HAM: reduced fiber velocity) can guide future exosuit refinement.
- Understanding individual responses is key for optimizing exosuit technology for gait assistance.
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