Study of Hip Exoskeleton Technology for Elderly Stability During Walking

Walking Assistive Exoskeletons (WAEs) are wearable devices that can allow individuals with mobility impairments to maintain their autonomy. The growing elderly population has benefited from these devices by receiving assistance at joints where their muscle function has declined. Typically, the primary objective of WAEs has been to reduce the metabolic cost of walking, allowing users to walk for extended periods. However, this strategy does not address the growing concern that seniors are at an increased risk of falling and sustaining severe injuries. Gait and balance disorders are among the most common causes of falls in the elderly. As people age, it is increasingly important to investigate the musculoskeletal changes contributing to frontal plane instability, as mediolateral and postero-lateral falls are highly correlated with severe injuries. Specifically, the hip abductor and adductor muscles are essential in maintaining balance in the frontal plane, yet minimal research has been conducted on the effect of a hip abduction-adduction exoskeleton on elderly stability. This paper outlines gait biomechanics, muscle contributions for mediolateral stability, changes associated with ageing, and strategies to improve balance during elderly gait. Subsequently, a comparison of existing hip WAEs highlights the feasibility of applying this technology to improve elderly gait stability.