title: Body weight support during robot-assisted walking: influence on the trunk and pelvis kinematics.
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 study was 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).
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Brussels, Belgium Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swinnen
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Biometry and Biomechanics (BIOM), Brussels, Belgium University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baeyens
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Brussels, Belgium Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Biometry and Biomechanics (BIOM), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hens
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Menselijke fysiologie (MFYS), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knaepen
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beckwée
authors.affiliation: Jessa Hospital, Rehabilitation Center Sint-Ursula, Herk-de-Stad, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michielsen
authors.affiliation: University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clijsen
authors.affiliation: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Brussels, Belgium Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kerckhofs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D060726:Torso / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Kinematics; gait; rehabilitation; robotics; trunk