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Exoskeleton-Assisted Mobility in Aging and in Parkinson's Disease
Sponsor: Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l'Outaouais
Summary
This study will evaluate whether a wearable robotic exoskeleton can improve mobility, balance, and walking in healthy older adults and in individuals living with Parkinson's disease, populations at high risk of falls and mobility limitations. Participants will attend two laboratory sessions. The first session includes clinical assessments, fitting and familiarization with the exoskeleton, and interviews to explore user perceptions. The second session involves performing functional mobility tasks (e.g., walking, standing, turning) with and without the exoskeleton and under different assistance levels, while movement is measured using wearable sensors. The study will assess the immediate effects of the exoskeleton on mobility, compare assistance levels, identify which participants benefit most, and explore user experience and acceptability. Findings will help inform the development and implementation of assistive technologies to support mobility in healthy aging and in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
Official title: Exoskeleton-Assisted Mobility in Aging and in Parkinson's Disease: A Mixed-Methods Study of Effectiveness and Acceptability
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
50 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
26
Start Date
2026-04-27
Completion Date
2026-11
Last Updated
2026-05-05
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Exoskeleton
The exoskeleton assistance in condition 2 will correspond to the preferred assistance level determined during the first session using an iterative approach. For conditions 3 and 4, four exoskeleton parameters will be adjusted: eccentric load assistance, concentric load assistance, assistance during lower-limb flexion in the swing phase, and assistance during lower-limb extension in the swing phase. The increased and decreased assistance conditions will correspond to an increase and a decrease of 3 Nm, respectively, for each of these parameters. A minimum assistance of 1 Nm per parameter will be maintained when the baseline preferred assistance level is low. During condition 5, the exoskeleton will be set to free mode, meaning that no assistance will be provided, but motor resistance will be eliminated.
Locations (1)
TechCare Research Lab - CISSS de l'Outaouais
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada