Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 2013 · DOI: 10.5812/ircmj.3613 · Published: June 5, 2013
Spinal cord injury results in loss of function, mobility, and sensation. Orthoses, including external powered orthoses (EPOs), are used to improve standing and walking abilities. However, EPOs can present challenges such as high energy consumption and reduced walking speed. This letter questions the extent to which EPOs improve paraplegic subjects' performance compared to mechanical systems, and the willingness of subjects to use these devices. The quality of available research evaluating the performance of external powered orthoses is not acceptable, and important parameters like ease of use and cosmesis should be considered.
More research is required to evaluate the effectiveness of external powered orthoses compared to traditional mechanical orthoses.
Future designs should prioritize ease of use (donning and doffing) and consider the cosmesis of the orthosis.
Evaluations should include motion analysis, stability assessments, energy consumption measurements, and user willingness.
The challenges include inadequate power supply, recharging batteries which require especial facilities and cost and size of the system.