Vibrotactile Feedback in Exoskeletons
About this trial
This study aims to investigate the impact of providing discrete vibrotactile feedback related to weight shift and step initiation on exoskeleton use in individuals with motor-complete SCI....
Included participants
What’s involved
Type
Details
Rationale: People with motor-complete spinal cord injury (SCI) lack motor function below the lesion level and are, thus, wheelchair-dependent. In recent years, wearable exoskeletons have emerged as potential mobility devices for this population. Although exoskeletons generate the basic motions for ambulation, postural stability must be maintained by the user. People with motor-complete SCI miss essential somatosensory perception, which affects their ability to maintain postural stability. Hence, walking in an exoskeleton is demanding, and crutches are necessary. When sensory information of a specific system is lost, the lack of sensory information can be substituted by providing feedback to another sensory system. As sensory feedback has been shown to improve postural control in people missing essential sensory information, such sensory substitution may also be effectively incorporated in people with complete SCI using an exoskeleton. Objective: The study aims to investigate the effect of vibrotactile feedback on exoskeleton use in people with motor-complete SCI. Study design: The proposed study is an experimental study. The study protocol includes six sessions of 90 minutes spread over three weeks. Sessions one to five are dedicated to training to assess the effect of vibrotactile feedback on exoskeleton motor learning. Session six is dedicated to evaluation to assess the effect of vibrotactile feedback on exoskeleton motor control.
Potential benefits
Main benefits
Standing/walking/mobility
Additional benefits
General health
Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.
Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder
Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.
Learn more- Trial recruitment status
- Ended
- Trial start date
- 6 Mar 2023
- Organisation
- Sint Maartenskliniek
- Trial recruitment status
- Ended
- Trial start date
- 6 Mar 2023
- Organisation
- Sint Maartenskliniek
About this trial
Included participants
What’s involved
Potential benefits
Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder
Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.
Learn more