A leading cause of disability in the United States is hemiparesis, a condition where impaired motor control, muscle weakness, and spasticity affect one side of the body. Occurring in 80% of stroke survivors, reduced mobility and decreased quality of life are challenges that impact millions of individuals.
Walking may seem like a simple activity, but it relies on complicated biomechanics. The impact of even a small loss of strength on one side of the body is multiplied as muscles on the other side engage to compensate. As a result, those with hemiparesis expend 60% more energy walking than those with a healthy gait. This means slower walking speeds, lower endurance, more pain and a greater risk of falls.
Researchers at the University of Utah’s Department of Mechanical Engineering are now piloting a device that can rebalance this equation. In a study conducted in collaboration with the College of Health, the team has shown that their portable, lightweight hip exoskeleton can reduce the energy required to walk by nearly 20% in individuals with hemiparesis after stroke. The results appear in the journal Nature Communications. the team has shown that their portable, lightweight hip exoskeleton can reduce the energy required to walk by nearly 20% in individuals with hemiparesis after stroke.
Read the full story on the Price College of Engineering Page.
