Evaluating pelvic external forces and moments in assisted walking: implications for the development of robotic-assisted walkers
摘要
Securing sufficient walking volume is crucial for maintaining and improving gait function after stroke. Robot-assisted gait training devices play a significant role in enhancing gait ability; however, challenges such as their large size, high cost, and limited adaptability exist. This study aimed to quantify the manual assistance techniques employed by physical therapists (PTs) in controlling the pelvis during gait training and utilize these findings for robot control strategies. Two healthy adult volunteers simulating individuals with limited right lower-limb load (approximately 70% of body weight) walked with a wheeled walker while eight PTs provided manual assistance by applying external forces and moments to the participants’ pelvis via a sensor-equipped pelvic belt. Data analysis revealed recurring patterns and notable periodicity (Average Peak Cross-Correlation Coefficient, APCC