학술논문
The Metabolic Cost of Exercising With a Robotic Exoskeleton: A Comparison of Healthy and Neurologically Impaired People
Document Type
Periodical
Author
Source
IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering IEEE Trans. Neural Syst. Rehabil. Eng. Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, IEEE Transactions on. 28(12):3031-3039 Dec, 2020
Subject
Language
ISSN
1534-4320
1558-0210
1558-0210
Abstract
While neuro-recovery is maximized through active engagement, it has been suggested that the use of robotic exoskeletons in neuro-rehabilitation provides passive therapy. Using oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) as an indicator of energy expenditure, we investigated the metabolic requirements of completing exercises in a free-standing robotic exoskeleton, with 20 healthy and 12 neurologically impaired participants (six with stroke, and six with multiple sclerosis (MS)). Neurological participants were evaluated pre- and post- 12 weeks of twice weekly robotic therapy. Healthy participants were evaluated in, and out of, the exoskeleton. Both groups increased their VO 2 level from baseline during exoskeleton-assisted exercise (Healthy: mean change in VO 2 = 2.10 ± 1.61 ml/kg/min, p =< 0.001; Neurological: 1.38 ± 1.22, p = 0.002), with a lower predicted mean in the neurological sample (−1.08, 95%CI −2.02, −0.14, p = 0.02). Healthy participants exercised harder out of the exoskeleton than in it (difference in VO 2 = 3.50, 95%CI 2.62, 4.38, p =< 0.001). There was no difference in neurological participants’ predicted mean VO 2 pre- and post- 12 weeks of robotic therapy 0.45, 95%CI −0.20, 1.11, p = 0.15), although subgroup analysis revealed a greater change after 12 weeks of robotic therapy in those with stroke (MS: −0.06, 95%CI −0.78, 0.66, p = 0.85; stroke: 1.00, 95%CI 0.3, 1.69, p = 0.01; difference = 1.06, p = 0.04). Exercise in a free-standing robotic exoskeleton is not passive in healthy or neurologically impaired people, and those with stroke may derive more benefit than those with MS.