Trial Outcomes & Findings for Optimizing Ankle Exoskeleton Assistance for Walking Across the Life Span (NCT NCT04033146)

NCT ID: NCT04033146

Last Updated: 2024-06-21

Results Overview

The rate of metabolic energy that participants expend during a short walking bout in each of the experimental conditions.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

16 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

3rd session, up to 2 weeks

Results posted on

2024-06-21

Participant Flow

Participants were enrolled and participated in the study from 2/4/2020 to 5/23/2023.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Young Adult Exoskeleton Users
Study participants who are 18-45 year old.
Older Adult Exoskeleton Users
Study participants who are \>65 years old
Overall Study
STARTED
10
6
Overall Study
COMPLETED
10
6
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Young Adult Exoskeleton Users
n=10 Participants
Study participants who are 18-45 year old.
Older Adult Exoskeleton Users
n=6 Participants
Study participants who are \>65 years old
Total
n=16 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=10 Participants
0 Participants
n=6 Participants
0 Participants
n=16 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
10 Participants
n=10 Participants
0 Participants
n=6 Participants
10 Participants
n=16 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=10 Participants
6 Participants
n=6 Participants
6 Participants
n=16 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants
n=10 Participants
5 Participants
n=6 Participants
8 Participants
n=16 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
7 Participants
n=10 Participants
1 Participants
n=6 Participants
8 Participants
n=16 Participants
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 3rd session, up to 2 weeks

The rate of metabolic energy that participants expend during a short walking bout in each of the experimental conditions.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Young Adult Exoskeleton Users
n=10 Participants
Study participants who are 18-45 year old. Ankle Exoskeleton Assistance: The investigators will use ankle-exoskeletons to modulate the amount of mechanical power generated by the user's ankle joint. That is, participants will walk in a robotic device that either (a) adds a spring or (b) a motor in parallel with their calf muscles to help them generate a stronger propulsive push-off that could reduce the effort of walking.
Older Adult Exoskeleton Users
n=6 Participants
Study participants who are greater than 65 years of age. Ankle Exoskeleton Assistance: The investigators will use ankle-exoskeletons to modulate the amount of mechanical power generated by the user's ankle joint. That is, participants will walk in a robotic device that either (a) adds a spring or (b) a motor in parallel with their calf muscles to help them generate a stronger propulsive push-off that could reduce the effort of walking.
Net Metabolic Rate (Watts/kg)
No Exoskeleton
3.30 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.66
3.47 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.31
Net Metabolic Rate (Watts/kg)
No Torque
3.86 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.62
4.18 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.62
Net Metabolic Rate (Watts/kg)
Spring-like Torque
3.72 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.78
4.34 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.57
Net Metabolic Rate (Watts/kg)
Motor-like Low Torque
3.51 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.83
3.68 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.65
Net Metabolic Rate (Watts/kg)
Motor-like Medium Torque
3.13 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.70
3.46 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.56
Net Metabolic Rate (Watts/kg)
Motor-like High Torque
3.24 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.65
3.20 watts/kg
Standard Deviation 0.52

Adverse Events

Young Adult Exoskeleton Users

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Older Adult Exoskeleton Users

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Gregory S. Sawicki; Professor Mechanical Engineering

Georgia Insitute of Technology

Phone: 919 448 5099

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place