title: Robot-assisted walking with the Lokomat: the influence of different levels of guidance force on thorax and pelvis kinematics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little attention has been devoted to the thorax and pelvis movements during gait. The aim of this study is to compare differences in the thorax and pelvis kinematics during unassisted walking on a treadmill and during walking with robot assistance (Lokomat-system (Hocoma, Volketswil, Switzerland)).
  
  
  METHODS
  18 healthy persons walked on a treadmill with and without the Lokomat system at 2kmph. Three different conditions of guidance force (30%, 60% and 100%) were used during robot-assisted treadmill walking (30% body weight support). The maximal movement amplitudes of the thorax and pelvis were measured (Polhemus Liberty™ (Polhemus, Colchester, Vermont, USA) (240/16)). A repeated measurement ANOVA was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Robot-assisted treadmill walking with different levels of guidance force showed significantly smaller maximal movement amplitudes for thorax and pelvis, compared to treadmill walking. Only the antero-posterior tilting of the pelvis was significantly increased during robot-assisted treadmill walking compared to treadmill walking. No significant changes of kinematic parameters were found between the different levels of guidance force.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With regard to the thorax and pelvis movements, robot-assisted treadmill walking is significantly different compared to treadmill walking. It can be concluded that when using robot assistance, the thorax is stimulated in a different way than during walking without robot assistance, influencing the balance training during gait.
authors: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Brussels, Belgium; Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: eswinnen@vub.ac.be.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Swinnen
authors: 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: Jean-Pierre
authors: JP
authors: Baeyens
authors: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Menselijke Fysiologie (MFYS), Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Kristel
authors: K
authors: Knaepen
authors: Jessa Hospital, Rehabilitation Center Sint-Ursula, Herk-de-Stad, Belgium.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Michielsen
authors: University College Physiotherapy Thim van der Laan, Landquart, Switzerland.
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Clijsen
authors: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Brussels, Belgium.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Beckwée
authors: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research (RERE), Brussels, Belgium; Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Kerckhofs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001835:Body Weight; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D010388:Pelvis / Q000502:physiology*; D012371:Robotics; D013909:Thorax / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Gait; Kinematics; Pelvis; Robot; Thorax