Effects of a Short-Term Interactive Biofeedback Therapy Using the Lumbar-Type Hybrid Assistive Limb in Older Adults...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Efficient rehabilitation strategies for older adults with reduced physical function remain underexplored.
• The lumbar-type Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) offers interactive biofeedback for trunk support and sit-to-stand movements, potentially improving gait.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a brief, four-week lumbar-type HAL-based therapy program on physical function in older adults.
• To assess improvements in Timed Up and Go (TUG) time, gait speed, and sit-to-stand performance.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm interventional study involving community-dwelling older adults (≥65 years) undergoing supervised HAL therapy.
• Participants received 10-minute HAL sessions weekly for four weeks (40 minutes total).
• Outcomes including TUG time, gait speed, and five-repetition sit-to-stand (SS5) time were assessed at multiple time points.

Main Results:

• Ten participants completed the study, showing significant improvements in TUG time, gait speed, and SS5 time.
• Acute improvements in TUG time were observed after the first session and maintained up to one month post-intervention.
• Gait speed and SS5 improvements were also significant and preserved post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• Short-duration, interactive biofeedback therapy with a lumbar-type HAL can improve physical function in older adults with reduced capacity.
• Further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up in randomized controlled trials is warranted.