Effect of Assisting Normal Walking using a Four-wheeled Walker Equipped with Robotics Technology

Abstract

Some assistive products have been developed to provide gait assistance for elderly people. They support the gait motion of elderly people by including a control system. In this study, an assisting effect for normal walking using a four-wheeled walker equipped robotics technology was investigated for walking velocity, an acceleration applied to the walker, and the muscular load on the users. The four-wheeled walker is an assistive product for elderly gait. Some sensors and motors were incorporated in the walker using robotics technology. Participants were elderly males and females aged from 70 to 81 years old. They walked with two types of walkers on five road conditions: gentle and steep downhills, flat road, and gentle and steep uphills. One walker was that with robotics technology and the other was a ready-made walker without robotics technology. The participants walked with the four-wheeled walkers using two handle conditions: handgrip and armrest types. In addition to a participant's own power, the robotics technology gave the participant external propulsion power; therefore, the walking velocity was faster than the ready-made walker. However, the walker with robotics technology reduced the muscular load on the participant compared to the ready-made walker. The walker with robotics technology could support a normal walking gait and simultaneously alleviate the muscular load on elderly users.