Advancing the Clinical Realization of Pediatric Knee Exoskeletons and Gamified Rehabilitation for Crouch Gait
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Dawson, Kendra Mirella
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Abstract
Rehabilitation robotics offer valuable additions to traditional occupational therapies. Treatment of this type has predominantly focused on adult populations, however, through technological adaptations, they are now being increasingly integrated into pediatric rehabilitation settings [1]. In this thesis, both the rehabilitation protocol and exoskeleton design will be explored concerning pediatrics.
The combination of visual biofeedback combined with robot assisted gait therapy has the potential to further improve results seen from robotic intervention alone [1]. An experiment was designed to be performed with pediatric subjects affected by cerebral palsy. This paper looks at the results from ably body testing. The subjects walk on a treadmill while wearing a bilateral powered knee exoskeleton and participating in a visual biofeedback game. The exoskeleton provides extension assistance for the first 40% of the gait cycle. A real-time avatar biofeedback game was designed to mimic the user’s trunk angle. The goal of the game is to keep the subjects engaged and encourage upright posture. The game displays an avatar that mimics the user’s trunk angle and a scoring system. Results showed improvement in gait posture.
A review of the commercial exoskeleton field showed a lack of pediatric options. A pediatric knee exoskeleton that catered to the rehabilitation work setting was developed. The device was designed with specific goals in mind, focusing on factors like sizing, adjustment time, and user-friendliness. By prioritizing these aspects, the aim was to bridge the gap in the commercial field and create a rehabilitation tool that proves highly beneficial in clinical settings. Control of the exoskeleton was developed with the goal of improving upon previous designs in the EPIC lab. A graphic user interface was developed to enable the implementation of the device in clinical settings.
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2023-08-04
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