Advisor Information
Philippe Malcolm
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
26-3-2021 12:00 AM
End Date
26-3-2021 12:00 AM
Abstract
Many neurological disorders lead to asymmetric gait patterns (i.e., Multiple Sclerosis, stroke). Although many treatment methods exist for combating asymmetric gait patterns, such as split-belt training or training with robotic exoskeletons (wearable devices) or braces, more research is needed to try to develop simple treatments for asymmetric patterns. A passive unilateral hip brace could be less expensive and time-consuming than split-belt or robotic hip brace training. Therefore, the purpose of this abstract is to discuss the design of a unilateral hip brace to be used in research on asymmetric gait training. The hip-brace consists of a waist-belt with a suspender attached. The knee portion of the brace consists of two surfer calf straps are located just below the knee. TheraBand® was used to create the elastic element of the hip brace, connecting the upper and lower portions of the brace. By changing the bands’ length, the tension increases, and the bands can assist or resist motion at the hip. The goal of future research with the hip brace is to manipulate the tension on the bands and examine how this affects asymmetric walking gait on the impaired side.
Design of a Low-Cost Unilateral Hip Brace for Gait Training
Many neurological disorders lead to asymmetric gait patterns (i.e., Multiple Sclerosis, stroke). Although many treatment methods exist for combating asymmetric gait patterns, such as split-belt training or training with robotic exoskeletons (wearable devices) or braces, more research is needed to try to develop simple treatments for asymmetric patterns. A passive unilateral hip brace could be less expensive and time-consuming than split-belt or robotic hip brace training. Therefore, the purpose of this abstract is to discuss the design of a unilateral hip brace to be used in research on asymmetric gait training. The hip-brace consists of a waist-belt with a suspender attached. The knee portion of the brace consists of two surfer calf straps are located just below the knee. TheraBand® was used to create the elastic element of the hip brace, connecting the upper and lower portions of the brace. By changing the bands’ length, the tension increases, and the bands can assist or resist motion at the hip. The goal of future research with the hip brace is to manipulate the tension on the bands and examine how this affects asymmetric walking gait on the impaired side.