Article

Powered orthoses are a new generation of assistive devices for people
with spinal cord injury, which are designed to induce motion to paralyzed lower
limb joints using external power via electric motors or pneumatic or hydraulic
actuators. OBJECTIVE: Powered gait orthoses provide activated movement of lower
limb joints to limit the forces applied through the upper limb joints and trunk
muscles during ambulation due to the need to use an external walking aid, while
simultaneously improving the kinetics and kinematics of walking in subjects with
spinal cord injury. This article reviews their walking efficacy when used by
people with paraplegia. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHOD: A literature
search was performed in ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Google Scholar,
ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases. RESULTS: Efficacy was demonstrated in
producing activated motion of lower limb joints. Powered gait orthoses have a
beneficial effect on the kinetics, kinematics, and temporal-spatial parameters of
gait, but their effect on muscle activity in individuals with spinal cord injury
is still unclear. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed regarding the design
and construction of powered gait orthoses using significant power application to
the ankle joints and their effect on lower limb muscle activity and gait patterns
in spinal cord injury subjects. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Powered orthoses is a new
generation of orthotic intervention that could potentially be significant in
assisting in improving the walking parameters and energy consumption of spinal
cord injury subjects.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS