Human-centered design of a novel soft exosuit for post-stroke gait rehabilitation.
Chandramouli Krishnan, Olugbenga P Adeeko, Edward Peter Washabaugh and 4 others
PMID 38658969WHAT IT FOUND
The new stroke-specific NewGait device scored 84.3 on usability versus 62.7 for the original, indicating best imaginable usability.
Silicone bands survived 500,000 cycles while latex failed at 26,727. Clinical effectiveness remains untested.
Key findings
01The new stroke-specific NewGait device achieved a System Usability Scale score of 84.3, compared to 62.7 for the original device and 46.9 for TheraTogs.
02Silicone-based elastic bands remained intact after 500,000 loading cycles, whereas latex-based bands failed after 26,727 cycles.
03Biomechanical simulation showed that bands placed over hip flexors and ankle dorsiflexors reduced tibialis anterior activation throughout the gait cycle.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study did not test the clinical effectiveness or patient outcomes of the device, only its usability and mechanical durability. The sample size for design sprints was very small (14 participants), limiting the generalizability of the user feedback. Biomechanical simulation was based on data from a single stroke survivor, so the muscle activation patterns may not apply to all patients. The authors acknowledged a risk of bias in interpreting feedback because they were invested in the device's success.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. One author (OPA) is identified as the NewGait developer, representing a potential conflict of interest in the design and evaluation of the device.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high usability score or favorable simulation results as evidence that the device improves walking ability or reduces falls. The paper explicitly states that clinical effectiveness is currently unclear and was beyond the scope of this study.