Reducing the energy cost of walking in older adults using a passive hip flexion device.
Fausto A Panizzolo, Chiara Bolgiani, Laura Di Liddo and 2 others
PMID 31615535WHAT IT FOUND
Eight of nine older adults showed reduced walking energy cost with a passive hip device, averaging a 3.3% drop.
However, no single assistance level significantly reduced cost compared to free walking, and individual responses varied widely.
Key findings
01Eight of the nine participants reported a reduced net metabolic power while wearing the Exoband in comparison to free walking.
02Considering the highest reduction in metabolic power reported by each participant while wearing the Exoband, this resulted in an average reduction of − 3.3 ± 3.0% ( p = 0.02) with respect to free walking.
03Although metabolic reductions were present in each of the three conditions (LOW, MED and HIGH), none of the condition per se, reported a significative reduction with respect to the NO_EXO condition.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study had a very small sample size of only nine participants. The participants were healthy community-dwelling older adults, so results may not apply to those with mobility impairments or neurological conditions. The device was tested only on a treadmill at a fixed speed, not in real-world walking. Individual responses varied greatly, with some participants showing increased metabolic cost in certain conditions. The study did not test the device's effect on clinical outcomes like fall risk or daily activity levels.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the 3.3% average reduction as a consistent benefit for all users. This figure was derived by selecting the best condition for each individual, but no single assistance level showed a significant reduction when tested as a group. Individual variability was high, and the device did not consistently lower energy cost across the three tested settings.