title: Walking with robot assistance: the influence of body weight support on the trunk and pelvis kinematics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to assess in healthy participants the three-dimensional kinematics of the pelvis and the trunk during robot-assisted treadmill walking (RATW) at 0%, 30% and 50% body weight support (BWS), compared with treadmill walking (TW).
  
  
  METHODS
  18 healthy participants walked (2 kmph) on a treadmill with and without robot assistance (Lokomat; 60% guidance force; 0%, 30% and 50% BWS). After an acclimatisation period (four minutes), trunk and pelvis kinematics were registered in each condition (Polhemus Liberty [240 Hz]). The results were analysed using a repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction, with the level of suspension as within-subject factor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During RATW with BWS, there were significantly (1) smaller antero-posterior and lateral translations of the trunk and the pelvis; (2) smaller antero-posterior flexion and axial rotation of the trunk; (3) larger lateral flexion of the trunk; and (4) larger antero-posterior tilting of the pelvis compared with TW.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are significant differences in trunk and pelvis kinematics in healthy persons during TW with and without robot assistance. These data are relevant in gait rehabilitation, relating to normal balance regulation. Additional research is recommended to further assess the influence of robot assistance on human gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trunk and pelvis moves in a different way during walking with robot assistance. The data suggest that the change in movement is due to the robot device and the harness of the suspension system more than due to the level of suspension itself.
authors: Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels , Belgium .
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Swinnen
authors: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Baeyens
authors: Kristel
authors: K
authors: Knaepen
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Michielsen
authors: Gerrit
authors: G
authors: Hens
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Clijsen
authors: Maggie
authors: M
authors: Goossens
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: Buyl
authors: Romain
authors: R
authors: Meeusen
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Kerckhofs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Body weight support; gait; kinematics; pelvis; robot; trunk