Effects of ankle exoskeleton assistance and plantar pressure biofeedback on incline walking mechanics and muscle activity in cerebral palsy

• Published in: Journal of biomechanics 2024-01, Vol.163, p.111944-111944, Article 111944
• Main Authors: Fang, Ying, Lerner, Zachary F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ankle; Ankle - physiology; Ankle Joint - physiology; Biofeedback; Biofeedback, Psychology; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biomechanics; Bone surgery; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Consent; Data collection; Developmental disabilities; Electromyography; Exoskeleton; Exoskeleton Device; Exoskeletons; Feedback; Fitness equipment; Gait; Gait - physiology; Humans; Kinematics; Knee; Lower Extremity; Mechanics; Motion capture; Movement disorders; Muscle function; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscles; Paralysis; Plantar pressure; Rehabilitation; Sensors; Walking; Walking - physiology; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 0021-9290; 1873-2380; 1873-2380
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.111944

Ankle dysfunction affects more than 50 % of people with cerebral palsy, resulting in atypical gait patterns that impede lifelong mobility. Incline walking requires increased lower limb effort and is a promising intervention that targets lower-limb extensor muscles. A concern when prescribing incline walking to people with gait deficits is that this exercise may be too challenging or reinforce unfavorable gait patterns. This study aims to investigate how ankle exoskeleton assistance and plantar pressure biofeedback would affect gait mechanics and muscle activity during incline walking in CP. We recruited twelve children and young adults with CP. Participants walked with ankle assistance alone, biofeedback alone, and the combination while we assessed ankle, knee, and hip mechanics, and plantar flexor and knee extensor activity. Compared to incline walking without assistance or biofeedback, ankle assistance alone reduced the peak biological ankle moment by 12 % (p