Soft exosuits increase walking speed and distance after stroke

Abstract

Portable exoskeletons are remarkable machines that can enable individuals who are unable to walk, to walk again <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1</sup> . Our group has developed soft robots (exosuits) made from functional textiles to enhance the walking performance of ambulatory individuals poststroke. Exosuits function by transmitting mechanical power generated by actuators to a wearer's paretic limb via the interaction of Bowden cables and the functional textiles <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> . In previous studies, we demonstrated that exosuits can transmit forces to the paretic limb during walking and improve ground clearance, increase propulsion symmetry, and reduce the metabolic burden of hemiparetic gait <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3,4</sup> . The present study evaluates the effects of a portable exosuit on short- and long-distance walking function.