Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of an automated stride assistance device
that assists hip joint flexion and extension movement in energy expenditure
during walking in healthy young adults using an expired gas method. DESIGN:
Prospective, single-group design to compare the differences of energy expenditure
between 2 assistive conditions. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy
volunteers (N=10) aged 21 to 32 years. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: Oxygen consumption per unit time (V o2) cost (ml.kg(-1).m(-1)),
and heart rate (beats/min) were measured in 2 assistive conditions (with 3-Nm hip
motion assistance and without assistance) and at 2 walking speeds (comfortable
walking speed [CWS] and maximum walking speed [MWS]). RESULTS: There were no
significant differences in walking speed between the with- and without-assistance
conditions at either the CWS or MWS. The V o2 cost and heart rate were
significantly reduced in the with-assistance condition compared with the
without-assistance condition, at both the CWS and MWS. The reduction in the V o2
cost during the with-assistance condition, relative to the without-assistance
condition, was 7.06% at the CWS and 10.52% at the MWS. CONCLUSIONS: The automated
stride assistance device is useful for reducing energy expenditure during walking
in healthy adults. Further studies are warranted to investigate if this device
provides substantial help to individuals with impaired mobility as a result of
strength deficits.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS