Resistance training using a novel robotic walker for over-ground gait rehabilitation: a preliminary study on healthy subjects.
Strength training is an aspect of gait rehabilitation, which complements balance control and weight-bearing training. However, conventional strength training does not show positive gait outcomes, due to lack of task specificity. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effects of a resistance force applied at the center of mass (CoM) and to investigate whether this exercise can be used for effective task-specific gait training. Using a novel robotic walker, a consistent resistive force was applied to the CoM of subjects in the posterior direction. Eleven healthy subjects were instructed to walk under five walking conditions with increasing forces, based on each subject's body weight (BW), at 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% BW. Joint kinematics and mean amplitude and frequency of electromyography signals from nine major muscles were measured. The application of resistance resulted in significantly increased flexion angles at ankle, knee, and hip joints. A large amount of motor unit activation with lower firing rates was found at knee and hip joints, indicating that this type of resistance training can improve muscular strength and endurance in a task-specific manner. The long-term effects of the resistance training on neurologically challenged patients will be investigated in the future.
Image Media Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 136791, Republic of Korea.
Kyung-Ryoul
KR
Mun
Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575, Republic of Singapore.
Brandon Bao Sheng
BBS
Yeo
Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575, Republic of Singapore.
Zhao
Z
Guo
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea.
Soon Cheol
SC
Chung
Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117575, Republic of Singapore. bieyhy@nus.edu.sg.
Haoyong
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9876-4863
H
Yu
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods; D014853:Walkers; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Center of mass; Gait rehabilitation; Robotic walker; Strength training; Task-specific gait training