Exoskeleton-Mediated Gait Training in Children

The Neurorobotics Research Group is currently running interventional trials to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of exoskeleton-based gait training in children with movement disorders. The trials involve an initial evaluation in our clinical motion analysis laboratory, followed by prescription of specific course of gait training with an exoskeleton that is tailored to each individual participant’s needs and ability. This prescription process includes working with the participant and their parents/caretakers in our laboratory to setup and practice using the exoskeleton. The participants then complete the therapy in the community and/or home setting, and return for final and follow-up evaluations. 

For this project, the student will assist in the prescription and setup of the exoskeleton therapy, as well as clinical testing and biomechanical evaluation of the effects of the novel exoskeleton gait training paradigm on research participants within our clinical gait lab. The project will require the student to: 

Participate in collection of motion capture and electromyography (EMG) in our clinical laboratory for gait analysis and exoskeleton prescription for children with gait impairments from cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy or incomplete spinal cord injury.  

1. Assist in training participants and their families in how to use the robotic exoskeleton during the prescribed course of gait training outside the clinical environment. 
2. Analyze motion capture, EMG and functional testing data to assess outcome measures, such as gait speed, knee angle, and/or muscle activity (EMG) during walking. 
3. Synthesize findings to assist in developing new potential ways to utilize the exoskeleton in the future.

Throughout this project, the student will receive mentorship and gain experience with motion capture, EMG, signal processing, and data analysis techniques (Matlab). The student may also gain experience in real time control of robotics, including microprocessor (Arduino) based programming. The student will also benefit from being in an active, interdisciplinary laboratory setting studying a wide range of movement pathologies and associated interventions, including novel treatment paradigms such as virtual reality, rehabilitation robotics, exoskeletons, and mobile neuroimaging (EEG/fNIRS). Our laboratory is part of the NIH Clinical Center, which is the world’s largest research hospital located on the NIH campus.