Analysis of a Periodic Force Applied to the Trunk to Assist Walking Gait

Sandesh G. Bhat, Susheelkumar Cherangara, Jason Olson, Sangram Redkar, Thomas G. Sugar

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Past research has shown that a horizontal force applied to the trunk greatly assists the user's gait by reducing metabolic cost and reducing the horizontal ground reaction force. Different from the literature which describes a constant applied, horizontal force, the authors hypothesized that a horizontal tether force will not be constant but will oscillate due to the periodic nature of human walking gait. This hypothesis was tested by analyzing the tether force, ground reaction forces, and gait kinematics and kinetics of six able-bodied human participants. An assistive device was designed by attaching a spring-tether to the user's trunk and the other end was affixed to the treadmill. The user naturally found a position on the treadmill to stretch the spring tether. Multiple tethers with different stiffnesses were used. The subjects were asked to walk on a treadmill at 1.2 m·s-1 while wearing the assistive device. Motion data, volumetric rate of oxygen consumption (Vo2)data, and the tether force data were collected. Three iterations of the tests were performed per participant, and the data was averaged. The horizontal assistive force was found to be periodic with twice the frequency of the gait cycle. Also, (Vo2) was found to be lower when wearing the device. The tether with the lowest stiffness was found to be the most effective in terms of reducing the metabolic rate. The authors concluded that the assistive device supplied power just at push-off for each foot while reducing the metabolic rate by 17% on average.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2019 Wearable Robotics Association Conference, WearRAcon 2019
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages68-73
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781538680568
DOIs
StatePublished - May 21 2019
Event2019 Wearable Robotics Association Conference, WearRAcon 2019 - Scottsdale, United States
Duration: Mar 25 2019Mar 27 2019

Publication series

Name2019 Wearable Robotics Association Conference, WearRAcon 2019

Conference

Conference2019 Wearable Robotics Association Conference, WearRAcon 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityScottsdale
Period3/25/193/27/19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Control and Optimization
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics

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