Improving walking balance and energy with a hip exoskeleton
Learning-based Control of a Hip Exoskeleton to Improve Balance and Energetics of Human Walking Functions
This study is testing a robotic hip exoskeleton to see if it can help people, especially those who have had a stroke, walk better and use less energy while walking.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 64 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | North Carolina State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Raleigh, North Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT05447884 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research focuses on using a robotic hip exoskeleton to enhance walking balance and energetics in individuals, particularly those affected by stroke. The study aims to personalize the assistance provided by the exoskeleton through innovative control algorithms and human-in-the-loop optimization methods. A total of 100 participants will be involved, including both healthy individuals and those with chronic stroke, to evaluate the effectiveness of different modes of exoskeleton assistance. The research will be conducted at North Carolina State University in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals aged 18 to 64 who can walk normally without assistance and have full range of motion in their hip joints.
Not a fit: Patients with neurological conditions affecting balance or walking, or those who require assistance to walk, may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly improve the walking ability and quality of life for stroke survivors.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored robotic exoskeletons for rehabilitation, showing promising results, but this approach of personalized assistance is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for non-neurologically affected populations: * Between 18 and 64 years old * Live in the United States * Able to understand study requirements and sign an informed consent * Have full range of motion in your hip joint * Able to walk normally without any assistance. Exclusion Criteria for non-neurologically affected populations: * Cannot follow instructions or provide feedback due to cognitive or language limitations * Suffered from a stroke that affects balance or walking * Use an electronically controlled medical device, such as a pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or drug pump * Pregnancy * Experience numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, pain, or paralysis in any part of your body * Cannot walk or balance without help from a person or a tool, such as a walker or cane * Limited movement in your hip or ankle * You have any skin-related allergies or irritation to adhesives * Have blood circulation, heart, metabolic, or cognitive disorders, including but not limited to: Peripheral vascular disease, Pitting edema, Heart disease, Diabetes (uncontrolled), Seizures, and Cognitive diagnoses that affect their ability to process information. Inclusion Criteria for subjects who suffered a stroke: * Between 18 and 64 years old * Live in the United States * Able to understand study requirements and sign an informed consent * Have weakness on one side of their body due to a stroke within the past 6 months * Have the doctor confirm that the subjects had a stroke within the past 6 months * Can walk without any assistance for at least 6 minutes and 1000 feet (a little less than a quarter-mile) * Can walk at a speed of 1 mile per hour * Have normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing * Capable of safely stepping on stairs without an Ankle-Foot Orthosis but may use canes as needed Exclusion Criteria for subjects who suffered a stroke: * Cannot follow instructions or provide feedback due to cognitive, spatial awareness, and/or language limitations * Are pregnant * Cannot walk without an ankle-foot brace or a therapist's assistance * Cannot walk or balance without the help of a tool, such as a walker or cane * Have vision, balance, or reaching issues unrelated to stroke * Use an electronically controlled medical device, such as a pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, or drug pump * Have numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, or pain in any part of your body * Have any skin related allergies or irritation to adhesives * Have blood circulation, heart, metabolic, or cognitive disorders, including but not limited to: Peripheral vascular disease, Pitting edema, Heart disease, Diabetes (uncontrolled), and Seizures.
Where this trial is running
Raleigh, North Carolina
- North Carolina State University — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Qiang Zhang, Ph.D.
- Email: qzhang25@ncsu.edu
- Phone: 412-628-4758
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.