Exoskeleton Controller and Design Considerations: Effect on Training Response for Persons with SCI

The objective of this research is to identify the demographic, physiological, kinematic and biomechanical determinants of exoskeleton assisted gait speed for individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI). High number (300) of gait cycles across multiple time-points were analyzed to identify the parameter estimates from mixed model for dependent variable walk speed. Step length, step width, single stance time did not contribute to walk speed whereas trunk lean mass, stride length, step frequency were the most significant contributors. These variables were more significant than any of the spatial temporal parameters that are associated with human gait. Future research should determine the relative contributions of each independent variable to walk speed for different devices. Understanding the effects of exoskeleton/human interface for different devices is crucial for developing effective/efficient training protocols for community ambulation, rehabilitation and recovery post SCI.