Body weight support during robot-assisted walking: Influence on the trunk and pelvis kinematics.

Swinnen, Eva and Baeyens, Jean Pierre and Hens, Gerrit and Knaepen, Kristel and Beckweé, David and Michielsen, Marc and Clijsen, Ron and Kerckhofs, Eric (2015) Body weight support during robot-assisted walking: Influence on the trunk and pelvis kinematics. NeuroRehabilitation, 36 (1). pp. 81-91. ISSN 1053-8135

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Abstract

Abstract. BACKGROUND: Efficacy studies concerning robot assisted gait rehabilitation showed limited clinical benefits. A changed kinematic pattern might be responsible for this. Little is known about the kinematics of the trunk and pelvis during robot assisted treadmill walking (RATW). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this studywas to assess the trunk and pelvis kinematics of healthy subjects during RATW, with different amounts of body weight support (BWS) compared to regular treadmill walking (TW). METHOD: Eighteen healthy participants walked on a treadmill, while kinematics were registered by an electromagnetic tracking device. Hereafter, the kinematics of pelvis and trunk were registered during RATW (guidance force 30%) with 0%, 30% and 50% BWS. RESULTS: Compared to TW, RATW showed a decrease in the following trunk movements: axial rotation, anteroposterior flexion, lateral and anteroposterior translation. Besides, a decrease in lateral tilting and all translation of the pelvis was found when comparing RATW with TW. Furthermore, the anteroposterior tilting of the pelvis increased during RATW. CONCLUSION: In general, there was a decrease in trunk and pelvis movement amplitude during RATW compared with regular TW. Though, it is not known if these changes are responsible for the limited efficacy of robot assisted gait rehabilitation. Further research is indicated. Keywords: Kinematics, trunk, robotics, gait, rehabilitation

Item Type:	Scientific journal article, Newspaper article or Magazine article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Kinematics; gait; rehabilitation; robotics; trunk
Subjects:	Subjects Allied to Medicine Subjects Allied to Medicine > Anatomy, physiology & pathology > Physiotherapy
Department/unit:	Dipartimento economia aziendale, sanità e sociale > Laboratorio di ricerca in riabilitazione
Depositing User:	Ron Clijsen
Date Deposited:	27 Mar 2015 06:32
Last Modified:	14 May 2021 11:00
URI:	http://repository.supsi.ch/id/eprint/6400

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