Exosuit-induced improvements in walking after stroke: Comprehensive analysis on gait energetics and biomechanics

Abstract

Walking after stroke is characterized by slow, asymmetric, and inefficient gait. A major contributor to walking deficits after stroke is impaired paretic ankle function. During pre-swing phase, impaired paretic ankle plantarflexion reduces the paretic limb's contribution to forward propulsion. During swing phase, impaired paretic ankle dorsiflexion inhibits ground clearance by the paretic limb. Our laboratory developed a lightweight, soft wearable robot (an exosuit) that interfaces with the paretic limb via functional textiles to actively assist ankle plantarflexion (PF) and dorsiflexion (DF) during walking. The objective of this study was to evaluate how exosuit assistance influences poststroke gait energetics and mechanics.