Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Soft Hip Exoskeleton Reduces Physiological Cost and Perceived Exertion In Older Adults During Uphill Walking
Published on: June 9, 2026
A hip extensor-assistive soft exosuit training redistributes plantar pressure in older adults: a randomized
Na Young Yun1,2, Jaeha Yang3, Kyeongmin Lim3
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Age-related gait decline is associated with reduced heel loading, forefoot overloading, and impaired gait stability. Soft wearable robotic suits that assist hip extension may improve gait biomechanics, but evidence for training-induced carry-over effects on plantar pressure distribution remains limited in community-dwelling older adults. This study investigated whether a short-term gait training program using a hip extensor-assistive soft wearable robotic suit could modify plantar pressure and spatiotemporal gait parameters under device-free assessment conditions.
Methods:
In this prospective, single-center, randomized controlled pilot trial, 42 community-dwelling older adults aged 65-79 years were randomly assigned to a robot-assisted training group (n = 21) or a control group (n = 21). Both groups completed a 3-week intervention consisting of six sessions, each including 20 min of treadmill-based gait training and 20 min of strength training. The robot-assisted group wore a cable-driven soft wearable robotic suit providing bilateral hip extension assistance during treadmill training, whereas the control group performed identical training without the device. All post-intervention assessments were conducted without the device. Plantar pressure and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured using the GAITRite® system at baseline and post-intervention.
Results:
Compared with the control group, the robot-assisted group showed a greater increase in heel contact area (p = 0.014), greater reductions in forefoot contact area (p = 0.016) and forefoot peak plantar pressure (p = 0.026), and significant time × group interactions for heel contact area (F = 7.273, p = 0.011), forefoot contact area (F = 5.042, p = 0.031), and forefoot peak plantar pressure (F = 5.535, p = 0.024). The robot-assisted group also showed reduced step length (p = 0.005), stride length (p = 0.005), single support time (p = 0.032), and swing phase duration (p = 0.037), along with increased stance phase duration (p = 0.041).
Conclusion:
Short-term training with a hip extensor-assistive soft wearable robotic suit was associated with changes in plantar loading and gait cycle patterns under device-free assessment conditions, suggesting that gait pattern modifications may occur after repeated training sessions.
