Usability of an exosuit in domestic and community environments.
Chiara Basla, Irina Hungerbühler, Jan Thomas Meyer and 3 others
PMID 36457037WHAT IT FOUND
Seven users rated the exosuit's usability above average but used it only about once weekly.
Difficulty putting the device on independently was the main barrier to regular use. Most did not reach recommended activity levels, and the suit was rarely used for daily living tasks at home.
Key findings
01Participants reported difficulty with the donning process, which limited independent use and frequency of training.
02Most participants used the device for exercise rather than activities of daily living, and few reached WHO physical activity recommendations.
03Users found the device easy to control once worn, but struggled with stairs due to lack of flexion support.
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
Very small sample size of seven participants limits generalizability. Selection bias is likely, as participants were recruited from a customer list and may have been more motivated or interested in technology than the general population. The study was descriptive and did not test efficacy, so it cannot determine whether the device improved clinical outcomes like strength or walking speed. Participants had diverse pathologies and baseline function, making it difficult to apply findings to specific patient groups.
Declared interests
The authors contacted the company commercializing the device (MyoSwiss AG) to obtain the user list. The study was supported by non-U.S. government funding, but no direct corporate funding or author conflicts with the manufacturer were explicitly detailed in the provided text beyond the recruitment pathway.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the above-average usability scores as evidence that the exosuit improves walking or health outcomes. This was a descriptive case series of seven users, not a clinical trial. The primary finding was that usability barriers, specifically donning difficulty, prevented regular use, and most participants did not achieve recommended activity levels even with the device.