What Are the Effects of a Bilateral Hip Exoskeleton During Daily Use by 65+ Adults?
NCT ID: NCT06041100
Last Updated: 2024-02-01
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
16 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2023-09-06
2024-01-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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The use of external mechanical walking devices started in the late 1890s. However, only in the past two decades have gait-assisting exoskeletons, with increased human performance capability, gained popularity. Exoskeletons have been shown to reduce metabolic cost, and fatigue onset and increase walking velocity. Currently on the market, there are several lower-limb exoskeletons that target older populations and people with gait and neurological disabilities which are designed to enhance walking performance and reduce the muscle activation required during walking activities. Wearing gait-assisting exoskeletons can provide instant ease, delay fatigue onset, increase social engagement, and support rehabilitation to recover normal walking capabilities. The effects of hip exoskeletons have been previously investigated in terms of quality of life and improvement of gait performance. However, the effect of long-term use has yet to be assessed. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the impact of extended usage of a non-invasive passive hip exoskeleton on the quality of life of older adults. This will be achieved by analyzing the spatiotemporal gait characteristics in a feasibility study conducted over a 12-week period of consistent device usage. Additionally, the study aims to ascertain the persistence of these effects for a duration of 6 weeks post-usage.
Conditions
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Study Design
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NA
SINGLE_GROUP
1. An initial assessment (baseline)
2. A 4-week assessment and
3. A 12-week assessment.
4. Around 8-10 participants will be invited for a follow-up assessment 6-weeks post after the trial has ended.
All participants will be instructed to wear the device 30 minutes daily during moderate to intensive physical activities. They will be required to provide a weekly overview of their usage and experience with the device.
PREVENTION
NONE
Study Groups
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Intervention
30 minutes of daily wearing an exoskeleton for 12-weeks
Exoskeleton
Use a passive assistive hip exoskeleton (alQ, Imasen Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd.) for 30 minutes daily during moderate to intensive activities over a period of 12-weeks. The exoskeleton is designed to aid hip flexion and as such its primary role is to improve gait by increasing step length and improving speed. The amount of time the exoskeleton has been used will be weekly monitored through phone calls and two gait sessions will be conducted to measure the development.
Interventions
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Exoskeleton
Use a passive assistive hip exoskeleton (alQ, Imasen Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd.) for 30 minutes daily during moderate to intensive activities over a period of 12-weeks. The exoskeleton is designed to aid hip flexion and as such its primary role is to improve gait by increasing step length and improving speed. The amount of time the exoskeleton has been used will be weekly monitored through phone calls and two gait sessions will be conducted to measure the development.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* able to walk independently without walking aids.
Exclusion Criteria
* uncorrected visual or hearing impairments
* Vestibular dysfunctions
* current use of walking aids.
65 Years
85 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Imasen Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd.
UNKNOWN
Aalborg Municipality
OTHER
Aalborg University
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Cristina-Ioana Pirscoveanu
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigators
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Cristina-Ioana Pirscoveanu
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Aalborg University
Locations
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Aalborg University
Gistrup, North Denmark, Denmark
Countries
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References
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Andreasen J, Lund H, Aadahl M, Gobbens RJ, Sorensen EE. Content validation of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator from the perspective of frail elderly. A qualitative explorative study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2015 Nov-Dec;61(3):392-9. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2015.08.017. Epub 2015 Aug 24.
Asselin P, Knezevic S, Kornfeld S, Cirnigliaro C, Agranova-Breyter I, Bauman WA, Spungen AM. Heart rate and oxygen demand of powered exoskeleton-assisted walking in persons with paraplegia. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2015;52(2):147-58. doi: 10.1682/JRRD.2014.02.0060.
Bangsbo J, Blackwell J, Boraxbekk CJ, Caserotti P, Dela F, Evans AB, Jespersen AP, Gliemann L, Kramer AF, Lundbye-Jensen J, Mortensen EL, Lassen AJ, Gow AJ, Harridge SDR, Hellsten Y, Kjaer M, Kujala UM, Rhodes RE, Pike ECJ, Skinner T, Skovgaard T, Troelsen J, Tulle E, Tully MA, van Uffelen JGZ, Vina J. Copenhagen Consensus statement 2019: physical activity and ageing. Br J Sports Med. 2019 Jul;53(14):856-858. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100451. Epub 2019 Feb 21.
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McPhee JS, French DP, Jackson D, Nazroo J, Pendleton N, Degens H. Physical activity in older age: perspectives for healthy ageing and frailty. Biogerontology. 2016 Jun;17(3):567-80. doi: 10.1007/s10522-016-9641-0. Epub 2016 Mar 2.
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Panizzolo FA, Bolgiani C, Di Liddo L, Annese E, Marcolin G. Reducing the energy cost of walking in older adults using a passive hip flexion device. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2019 Oct 15;16(1):117. doi: 10.1186/s12984-019-0599-4.
Sawicki GS, Beck ON, Kang I, Young AJ. The exoskeleton expansion: improving walking and running economy. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2020 Feb 19;17(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s12984-020-00663-9.
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Villumsen M, Grarup B, Christensen SWMP, Palsson TS, Hirata RP. "Study protocol for the >/=65 years NOrthern jutland Cohort of Fall risk Assessment with Objective measurements (the NOCfao study)". BMC Geriatr. 2020 Jun 8;20(1):198. doi: 10.1186/s12877-020-01535-6.
Witte KA, Fiers P, Sheets-Singer AL, Collins SH. Improving the energy economy of human running with powered and unpowered ankle exoskeleton assistance. Sci Robot. 2020 Mar 25;5(40):eaay9108. doi: 10.1126/scirobotics.aay9108.
Yandell MB, Tacca JR, Zelik KE. Design of a Low Profile, Unpowered Ankle Exoskeleton That Fits Under Clothes: Overcoming Practical Barriers to Widespread Societal Adoption. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2019 Apr;27(4):712-723. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2019.2904924. Epub 2019 Mar 14.
Related Links
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Danish Health Authority. Health promotion package - Physical activity. (2018).
Sundhedsstyrelsen. Danskernes Sundhed - Tal fra Den Nationale Sundhedsprofil
World Health Organization. Denmark Physical activity factsheet 2018
Zhang et al., 2019 - Design and Control of a Series Elastic Actuator With Clutch for Hip Exoskeleton for Precise Assistive Magnitude and Timing Control and Improved Mechanical Safety
Other Identifiers
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AAU2-LBK1083
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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