Post Stroke Walking Kinematics Using the Honda Walking Assist Robotic Exoskeleton

Launched by COLLEGE OF ST. SCHOLASTICA, INC. · Jan 31, 2019

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Following stroke walking dysfunction is prevalent. Traditional rehabilitation methods fall short of achieving desirable walking outcomes for most people who experience stroke. Robotic methods to assist walking, such as the Honda Walking Assist Device (HWA) Robot from Honda R \& D Americas Inc., are being explored as a means of improving the recovery of walking post stroke. Prior to examining the effectiveness of exoskeletal robots for walking recovery it is important to understand their effect on kinematic and muscle responses during walking. Kinematic and muscle responses at the hip during...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • ≥12 weeks but \<1 year post stroke at time of study participation
• • Age: 18-85 years
• • Ability to walk a minimum of 10 meters with standby assistance with or without orthosis or assistive device (Functional Ambulation categories 3, 4 or 5)
• • Able to follow three step commands
• • Express the ability to understand study tasks and purpose
• • Able and willing to provide written informed consent
• • Living in the community with the ability to travel to maurices Community Clinic for testing
• • Willingness to wear the StepWatch pedometer for a period of 3 days in their home
• • (If applicable) ≥ 90 days post major orthopedic surgery (such as a joint replacement)
• • (If applicable) ≥ 6 months post cardiac surgery
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Serious cardiac conditions (hospitalized for myocardial infarction or heart surgery within 3 months, congestive heart failure, unstable cardiac arrhythmias, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, severe aortic stenosis, angina or dyspnea at rest or during activities of daily living)
• • Severe arthritis or orthopedic conditions that limit lower extremity range of motion (\> 10° or \< 90° knee flexion, lacking \> 25° hip extension, \>15° from neutral plantar flexion.)
• • Preexisting neurologic disorders such as Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease or Ataxia.
• • History of lower limb amputation, non-healing ulcers, legal blindness or severe visual impairment