Simulating Ideal Assistive Strategies to Reduce the Metabolic Cost of Walking in the Elderly.
Journal:
IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering
Published Date:
Aug 19, 2022
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Development of walking assist exoskeletons is a growing area of study, offering a solution to restore, maintain, and enhance mobility. However, applying this technology to the elderly is challenging and there is currently no consensus as to the optimal strategy for assisting elderly gait. The gait patterns of elderly individuals often differ from those of the younger population, primarily in the ankle and hip joints. This study used musculoskeletal simulations to predict how ankle and hip actuators might affect the energy expended by elderly participants during gait.