Wearable knee exoskeleton for power training in older adults (OZR3803)

Recent evidence suggests that a resistance training program for older
adults should include power-oriented exercises (i.e. concentric muscle
contractions performed as fast as possible). However, power-oriented
resistance training, can pose limitations in older adults (e.g. due to
limited mobility). As such, identifying modes of exercise that are
tolerable and feasible in older adults is important. The ultimate goal of
this project is to develop a user-friendly portable knee exoskeleton for
older adults that is more effective in gaining lower limb muscle power
than traditional exercise programs. As a first essential step towards this
long-term goal, we will use the ZAP start up bonus to study the user
requirements, ergonomic requirements and biomechanical
requirements, and incorporate these into the mechanical design of an
existing knee exoskeleton developed for the assistance of walking and
sit-to-stance after stroke. To our knowledge, this would be the first
wearable exoskeleton designed for power-oriented lower limb strength
training in older adults

Keywords:Knee Exoskeleton, Muscle Power, Resistance Training, Active Ageing

Disciplines:Rehabilitation engineering, Human-centred and life-like robotics, Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, Biomechanics, Medical device usage, Geriatrics