Table 1 Basic science PAFOs tested on healthy subjects in walking experiments
Ref. | Actuation (Pf/Df) | Control | Weight PAFO | Subjects | Conditions (n. sessions / repetitions) | Ul / Bl | Portable | Aim | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferris, 2005 [29] | 1PAM (Pf) + 1PAM (Df) | PMc (SOL / TIB) | 1.6 kg | 1 H | training: 60 min; test: 6N-6U-30P(Pf)-30P(Df) (1sess) | / | no | Design lightweight orthosis for powered Pf and Df | Pf assist: SOL reduced 47%, TIB increased 10% w.r.t. U; Df assist: SOL increased 10%, TIB reduced 20% w.r.t. U |
Ferris, 2006 [30] | 1PAM (Pf) + 1PAM (Df) | PMc (SOL / TIB) | 1.7 kg | 1 H | P (1 sess) | / | no | Improve design of PAFO in Ferris, 2005 [29] | Design improved: easier to don-doff, more comfortable |
Galle, 2013 [43] | PAM (Pf) | P-Bc | 0.76 kg | 9 H | 24P-4U | Bl | no | Assess the effects of adaptation on the users | Metabolic cost of walking and lower limbs muscle activation decrease from beginning to adapted period |
Gordon, 2006 [44] | 1 / 2 PAM (Pf) | P-Bc | 1.3 / 1.7 kg | 3 H | training: 1 min, test: 20secN-20secU-20secP (2 muscle configurations and 4 speeds) (2sess) | Ul | no | Examine effect of walking speed and amount of assistance | Ankle more plantarflexed in double PAM configuration, but similar total moments |
1 H | training: 1 min; test: 20secU-20secP (3 muscle lengths) | no | Examine the effect of PAM length | Middle length of PAM is optimal | |||||
Gordon, 2007 [31] | PAM (Pf) | PMc (SOL) | 1.2 kg | 10 H | 10U-30P-15U (2 sess) | Ul | no | Examine adaptation of users and whether adapted pattern is retained in time | Users learn to use less their muscles when assistance is provided and can retain this information |
Kao, 2009 [32] | PAM (Df) | PMc (TIB) continuous | / | 5 H | 10U-30P-15U (2 sess) | Ul | no | Examine how subjects adapt to Df assistance | TIB reduced only in initial stance in group continuous; in both groups TIB activity in swing is similar to U |
PMc (TIB) only in swing | 5 H | ||||||||
Kao, 2010 [33] | 2 PAM (Pf) | PMc (SOL) | 1.08 kg | 11 H | 10U-30P-15U (2 sess) | Ul | no | Determine if adaptation depends on the amount of assistance provided | Higher amount of assistance leads to longer adaptation time |
Kinnaird, 2009 [34] | PAM (Pf) | PMc (MG) | 1.23 kg | 10 H | 10U-30P-15U (2 sess) | Ul | no | Assess how nervous system adapts to external assistance | Main reduction in SOL (muscle replaced by actuation), however also MG reduced to modulate action PAFO |