A biologically-inspired multi-joint soft exosuit that can reduce the energy cost of loaded walking
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Panizzolo et al. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation (2016) 13:43 DOI 10.1186/s12984-016-0150-9
RESEARCH
Open Access
A biologically-inspired multi-joint soft exosuit that can reduce the energy cost of loaded walking Fausto A. Panizzolo1,2, Ignacio Galiana1,2, Alan T. Asbeck1,2, Christopher Siviy1,2, Kai Schmidt1,2, Kenneth G. Holt3 and Conor J. Walsh1,2*
Abstract Background: Carrying load alters normal walking, imposes additional stress to the musculoskeletal system, and results in an increase in energy consumption and a consequent earlier onset of fatigue. This phenomenon is largely due to increased work requirements in lower extremity joints, in turn requiring higher muscle activation. The aim of this work was to assess the biomechanical and physiological effects of a multi-joint soft exosuit that applies assistive torques to the biological hip and ankle joints during loaded walking. Methods: The exosuit was evaluated under three conditions: powered (EXO_ON), unpowered (EXO_OFF) and unpowered removing the equivalent mass of the device (EXO_OFF_EMR). Seven participants walked on an instrumented split-belt treadmill and carried a load equivalent to 30 % their body mass. We assessed their metabolic cost of walking, kinetics, kinematics, and lower limb muscle activation using a portable gas analysis system, motion capture system, and surface electromyography. Results: Our results showed that the exosuit could deliver controlled forces to a wearer. Net metabolic power in the EXO_ON condition (7.5 ± 0.6 W kg−1) was 7.3 ± 5.0 % and 14.2 ± 6.1 % lower than in the EXO_OFF_EMR condition (7.9 ± 0.8 W kg−1; p = 0.027) and in the EXO_OFF condition (8.5 ± 0.9 W kg−1; p = 0.005), respectively. The exosuit also reduced the total joint positive biological work (sum of hip, knee and ankle) when comparing the EXO_ON condition (1.06 ± 0.16 J kg−1) with respect to the EXO_OFF condition (1.28 ± 0.26 J kg−1; p = 0.020) and to the EXO_OFF_EMR condition (1.22 ± 0.21 J kg−1; p = 0.007). Conclusions: The results of the present work demonstrate for the first time that a soft wearable robot can improve walking economy. These findings pave the way for future assistive devices that may enhance or restore gait in other applications. Keywords: Soft exosuit, Metabolic power, Loaded walking, Lower limb exoskeleton
Background Carrying heavy loads alters the biomechanics of walking, leading to an increased metabolic burden. This negative consequence of load carriage has been reported in soldiers, first responders, and recreational athletes who are required to execute physically demanding tasks during walking [1, 2]. Several studies investigating the locomotion of * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA 2 Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
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