Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate trunk muscle activity patterns in a person with
thoracic spinal cord injury when walking with different un-powered exoskeletons,
and to explore how different un-powered exoskeletons affect trunk muscle activity
patterns. CASE REPORT:
Data were recorded from a subject with complete spinal
cord injury at T10, using an electromyography system on 4 pairs of trunk muscles
and a motion capture system simultaneously. RESULTS:
The participant generated
large muscle force to laterally bend and rotate trunk, and swung his leg through
the moments generated, not only by trunk flexion and extension, but by trunk
rotation. In an energy-stored exoskeleton without springs condition, the energy
generated by erector spinae contraction was stored in the energy-stored component
in the stance phase and released in the swing phase to compensate for energy
generated by the obliquus externus abdominis and avoid overuse of the obliquus
externus abdominis. CONCLUSION: These findings prompt further development of
un-powered exoskeletons and investigation into trunk muscle functions in patients
with spinal cord injury when walking with un-powered exoskeletons.

Langue : ANGLAIS