Clinical Efficacy of Exoskeleton Assistance for Individuals Post-Stroke
Stroke
About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Stroke focused on measuring Stoke, Robotic Exoskeleton, Gait
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Chronic stroke survivors (at least 6 months post stroke) Age 18-85 years of age with a neurological condition or gait impairment from stroke capable of participating in the study procedures (as per participant report) Ability to sit unsupported for minimum of 30 seconds. Ability to walk without support (a rail as needed), with a walking speed of at least 0.4 m/s (limited community ambulatory speed); Must be able to walk for at least 6 minutes for each trial; Willingness and ability to participate over a 1-4 hour experiment, with breaks enforced regularly and as needed; Ability to transfer (sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit) with no external support (arm rests support allowed); Ability to ambulate over small slopes (3 degrees) and a few steps (6 steps). Exclusion Criteria: Any loss of sensation in the legs A complete spinal cord injury, History of concussion in the last 6 months (per participant report), History of any severe cardiovascular conditions, severe arthritis, or orthopedic problems that limit lower body movement, Presence of other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), dementia, History of head trauma which is not fully resolved (per participant report), Lower extremity amputation, Non-healing ulcers of a lower extremity, Renal dialysis or end state liver disease, Legal blindness or severe visual impairment. Use of a pacemaker or Presence of metal implants in the head region, Have uncontrolled seizures. Lastly, if participants are participating in another clinical study and/or a participant's physical condition is limited to do different tasks, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI), would likely affect the study outcome or confound the results, participants will be excluded from the study.
Sites / Locations
- Exoskeleton and Prosthetic Intelligent Controls Lab
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Stroke Survivors
This study will be divided into 2 sessions that will occur on 2 separate days: 1) Hip Exoskeleton session and 2) Ankle Exoskeleton session. In each session, subjects will undergo two conditions in which they complete the outcomes measures 1) while wearing the exoskeleton and 2) in a baseline condition without the exoskeleton. Order of condition and session will be randomized. Prior to the exoskeleton condition, subjects will be allowed time to acclimate to the device during a walking session on the treadmill. Subjects will complete several timed walking tests both indoors and outdoors. Measurements of energy expenditure may also be recorded along with patient reported outcomes data to assess participant perception of their performance with and without the devices.