Modular hip exoskeleton improves walking function and reduces sedentary time in community-dwelling older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the benefits of physical activity for healthy physical and cognitive aging, 35% of adults over the age of 75 in the United States are inactive. Robotic exoskeleton-based exercise studies have shown benefits in improving walking function, but most are conducted in clinical settings with a neurologically impaired population. Emerging technology is starting to enable easy-to-use, lightweight, wearable robots, but their impact in the otherwise healthy older adult population remains mostly unknown. For the first time, this study investigates the feasibility and efficacy of using a lightweight, modular hip exoskeleton for in-community gait training in the older adult population to improve walking function.

Methods

Twelve adults over the age of 65 were enrolled i

SUBMITTER: Jayaraman C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9801566 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature