Overground Robotic Gait Trainer mTPAD Improves Gait Symmetry and Weight Bearing in Stroke Survivors

Stroke often leads to difficulty in walking, with patients showing asymmetry in their gait. This study explores how a robotic device, the mTPAD, can help stroke survivors improve their walking. The mTPAD applies forces to the pelvis while the person walks, and this force is timed to coincide with specific parts of their walking pattern. Researchers tested if applying sideways or downward forces to the pelvis could improve how much weight stroke survivors put on their affected leg and how symmetrical their steps were. The study found that applying a sideways force improved the symmetry of the patient's steps, while applying a downward force increased the weight placed on the affected leg. This shows promise for using the mTPAD as a tool to help stroke survivors walk better.

• 1
  Applying a lateral force to the pelvis during the affected stance phase significantly improved the lateral symmetry of the center of pressure (COP) trajectory.
• 2
  Applying a downward force to the pelvis during the affected stance phase significantly increased the maximum relative pressure under the affected limb, indicating increased weight-bearing.
• 3
  The mTPAD's ability to apply forces timed with the user's gait cycle allows for tailored interventions to address specific gait deficits.