Biomechanics Research

KEY FINDING: High inter- and intra-session reliability were found for most kinematic gait variables, indicating small intrinsic variation of gait.

KEY FINDING: Patients with paresis can achieve continuous voluntary control of robotic exoskeletons using the developed EMG-driven musculoskeletal model-based HMI, even with paretic and spastic-like muscle activity.

KEY FINDING: Standing generates the highest compressive force (240% body weight) and lowest shear force (24% body weight) at the distal femur compared to supine and seated positions.

KEY FINDING: The study found that the energy cost of walking (CW) is a predictor of walking performance in the community, as measured by the Walking Handicap Scale (WHS).

KEY FINDING: Participants showed a significant increase in walking speed, stride length, and cadence when using external cues, especially visuotemporal cues, compared to the uncued condition.

KEY FINDING: The pelvic implant orthosis can be constructed from readily available standard machine parts.

KEY FINDING: The subject exhibited wrist extension angles up to 60°, indicating a high degree of wrist strain during wheelchair propulsion.

KEY FINDING: Subjects lost 8.3% of their bone mineral density during the acute period of SCI.

KEY FINDING: Spatial variability was highest at the start and end of the recovery phase and lowest during the middle of the recovery path.

KEY FINDING: Walking speeds from the 10MWT and 6MWT were highly correlated, but the 10MWT speeds were generally faster.