Ultrasound imaging links soleus muscle neuromechanics and energetics during human walking with elastic ankle exoskeletons

R W Nuckols,R W Nuckols,R W Nuckols,O N Beck,G S Sawicki,G S Sawicki,T J M Dick,T J M Dick

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-60360-4

Abstract

Unpowered exoskeletons with springs in parallel to human plantar flexor muscle-tendons can reduce the metabolic cost of walking. We used ultrasound imaging to look ‘under the skin’ and measure how exoskeleton stiffness alters soleus muscle contractile dynamics and shapes the user’s metabolic rate during walking. Eleven participants (4F, 7M; age: 27.7 ± 3.3 years) walked on a treadmill at 1.25 m s−1 and 0% grade with elastic ankle exoskeletons (rotational stiffness: 0–250 Nm rad−1) in one training and two testing days. Metabolic savings were maximized (4.2%) at a stiffness of 50 Nm rad−1. As exoskeleton stiffness increased, the soleus muscle operated at longer lengths and improved economy (force/activation) during early stance, but this benefit was offset by faster shortening velocity and poorer economy in late stance. Changes in soleus activation rate correlated with changes in users’ metabolic rate (p = 0.038, R2 = 0.44), highlighting a crucial link between muscle neuromechanics and exoskeleton performance; perhaps informing future ‘muscle-in-the loop’ exoskeleton controllers designed to steer contractile dynamics toward more economical force production.

Highlights

Unpowered exoskeletons with springs in parallel to human plantar flexor muscle-tendons can reduce the metabolic cost of walking
These studies demonstrate that exoskeletons may disrupt the normal plantar flexor MT dynamics by limiting the ability of series-elastic tissues to keep plantar flexor muscles operating with contractile dynamics favorable for economical force production[30]
To highlight the effect of exoskeleton stiffness on biomechanics and walking economy, the results focus on the effect of two exoskeleton stiffnesses with respect to the 0 Nm rad−1 condition

Summary

Introduction

Unpowered exoskeletons with springs in parallel to human plantar flexor muscle-tendons can reduce the metabolic cost of walking. 40% to 60% (toe-off) stride, the plantar flexors shorten and the tendon rapidly recoils, providing a burst of positive mechanical power[1,4,7] This coordinated MT interaction permits the plantar flexor muscle fascicles to operate over a narrow region of their force-length (F-L) curve and remain at slow shortening velocities which are favorable contractile conditions for economical force production[7,8,9,10,11,12]. Musculoskeletal simulations of walking with a unilateral elastic exoskeleton have demonstrated that applying ankle exoskeleton torque to the ankle joint reduces muscle force requirements, which leads to decreased tendon stretch and increased fascicle strain[17] This trend is supported by a recent study that used ultrasound imaging to track the junction between the medial gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon during walking with a dynamic orthosis[35]. These studies demonstrate that exoskeletons may disrupt the normal plantar flexor MT dynamics by limiting the ability of series-elastic tissues to keep plantar flexor muscles operating with contractile dynamics favorable for economical force production[30]

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion