Automated stride assistance device improved the gait parameters and energy cost during walking of healthy middle-aged females but not those of young controls.

Only ten middle-aged and ten young women were studied, so the result is preliminary. The middle-aged women were healthy and had similar leg strength and standing balance to the young women, so they may not represent typical middle-aged adults. The test was a single 3-minute indoor walk, not everyday walking or long-term use. Participants were blinded to whether the device was active, but the study did not check whether they could actually feel the assistance. No people with disability or older adults were included, despite the device being discussed for those groups.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that the device is an effective long-term treatment or that it will help people with disability. The study tested a 3-minute walk in healthy middle-aged and healthy young women only, and it did not assess long-term use or disabled patients.