TY - JOUR
T1 - Design of the Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor (WPAL) for paraplegic gait reconstruction
AU - Tanabe, Shigeo
AU - Saito, Eiichi
AU - Hirano, Satoshi
AU - Katoh, Masaki
AU - Takemitsu, Tomohiko
AU - Uno, Akihito
AU - Shimizu, Yasuhiro
AU - Muraoka, Yoshihiro
AU - Suzuki, Toru
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by a grant-in-aid of Basic Technology Development for Practical Application of Human Support Robots [8068149] and Practical Development of Industrial Technology [8080694] by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) (NEDO). The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
PY - 2013/1
Y1 - 2013/1
N2 - Purpose: To develop and clinically evaluate a novel assistive walking system, the Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor (WPAL). Methods: To evaluate the performance of WPAL, a clinical trial is conducted with four paraplegic patients. After fitting the WPAL, patients learned to use the WPAL. The length and duration of independent walking was measured and compared to conventional orthosis (Primewalk). Results: After training, all patients were able to stand, sit, and walk independently with the WPAL. Compared to a conventional orthosis (Primewalk), the duration and distance of independent ambulation increased. The physiological cost index (PCI), perceived exertion and EMG of upper extremities decreased. Conclusions: WPAL might greatly enhance the possibility of restoration gait to paraplegic patients. Implications for Rehabilitation WPAL is developed to provide independent and comfortable walking for spinal cord injury patients. WPAL is less demanding physically than conventional orthosis (Primewalk). Even patients who cannot walk independently with conventional orthosis might be able to do so with WPAL.
AB - Purpose: To develop and clinically evaluate a novel assistive walking system, the Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor (WPAL). Methods: To evaluate the performance of WPAL, a clinical trial is conducted with four paraplegic patients. After fitting the WPAL, patients learned to use the WPAL. The length and duration of independent walking was measured and compared to conventional orthosis (Primewalk). Results: After training, all patients were able to stand, sit, and walk independently with the WPAL. Compared to a conventional orthosis (Primewalk), the duration and distance of independent ambulation increased. The physiological cost index (PCI), perceived exertion and EMG of upper extremities decreased. Conclusions: WPAL might greatly enhance the possibility of restoration gait to paraplegic patients. Implications for Rehabilitation WPAL is developed to provide independent and comfortable walking for spinal cord injury patients. WPAL is less demanding physically than conventional orthosis (Primewalk). Even patients who cannot walk independently with conventional orthosis might be able to do so with WPAL.
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U2 - 10.3109/17483107.2012.688238
DO - 10.3109/17483107.2012.688238
M3 - Article
C2 - 22612673
AN - SCOPUS:84871443283
SN - 1748-3107
VL - 8
SP - 84
EP - 91
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
IS - 1
ER -