Abstract
BackgroundStair ascent is one of the most important and challenging activities of daily living to maintain mobility and independence in elderly adults. Recently, various types of wearable walking assist robots have been developed to improve gait function and metabolic efficiency for elderly adults. Several studies have shown that walking assist robots can improve cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during level walking in elderly. However, there is limited evidence demonstrating the effect of walking assist robots on cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during stair walking in elderly adults. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the assistance effect of a newly developed wearable hip assist robot on cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during stair ascent in elderly adults.MethodsFifteen healthy elderly adults participated. The Gait Enhancing Mechatronic System (GEMS), developed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea, was used in the present study. The metabolic energy expenditure was measured using a K4b2 while participants performed randomly assigned two conditions consecutively: free ascending stairs without the GEMS or robot-assisted ascending stair with the GEMS.ResultsThere were significant differences in the oxygen consumption per unit mass (ml/min/kg), metabolic power per unit mass (W/kg) and metabolic equivalents (METs) values between the GEMS and NoGEMS conditions. A statistically significant difference was found between the two conditions in net oxygen consumption and net metabolic power, with a reduction of 8.59% and 10.16% respectively in GEMS condition (p < 0.05). The gross oxygen consumption while climbing stairs under the GEMS and NoGEMS conditions was equivalent to 6.38 METs and 6.85 METs, respectively.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the GEMS was helpful for reducing cardiopulmonary metabolic energy expenditure during stair climbing in elderly adults. The use of the GEMS allows elderly adults to climb stairs with less metabolic energy, therefore, they may experience more endurance in stair climbing while using the GEMS.Trial registrationNCT03389165, Registered 26 December 2017 - retrospectively registered
Highlights
Stair ascent is one of the most important and challenging activities of daily living to maintain mobility and independence in elderly adults
Figure 3b) shows that stair ascent with the Gait Enhancing Mechatronic System (GEMS) required an average of 6.10 ± 1.15 W/kg, while stair ascent without the GEMS required an average of 6.79 ± 1.18 W/ kg of net metabolic power per unit mass
The result of our study found that the net metabolic energy expenditure reduction was about 10.2% in the GEMS compared to NoGEMS condition
Summary
Stair ascent is one of the most important and challenging activities of daily living to maintain mobility and independence in elderly adults. Various types of wearable walking assist robots have been developed to improve gait function and metabolic efficiency for elderly adults. Several studies have shown that walking assist robots can improve cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during level walking in elderly. There is limited evidence demonstrating the effect of walking assist robots on cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during stair walking in elderly adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the assistance effect of a newly developed wearable hip assist robot on cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency during stair ascent in elderly adults. A reduction in the energy expenditure of level and stair walking is important elements in preventing falls and maintaining quality of life. In order to improve cardiopulmonary metabolic efficiency of elderly adults, it is essential to develop useful methods such as physical training utilizing resistance and aerobic exercise, balance training, and assistance using robotic devices
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