Innovative development of gait assistant device and rehabilitation protocol to intend improvement of gait speed for adult scoliosis

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09226
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Iwai Chizuo 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 特任講師 (90444249)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 成人脊柱変形 / 無動力歩行支援機 / 歩行動作解析 / 筋電図

Outline of Final Research Achievements

De novo degenerative scoliosis has been treated by correction and fusion surgery from lower thoracic spine to pelvis, recently. Even if such a correction surgery accomplished ideal realignment in the spino-pelvic parameter, postoperative gait speed and step length clearly showed more inferior rather than normal volunteers.
Motorless gait assistant device: ACSIVE developed by a theory based on passive dynamic walk, which might be associated with improvement of gait speed. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this study within the period because of insufficient number of adult spinal deformity(ASD) cases. I will keep on investigating the impact on ACSIVE using 3-D gait analysis combined with synchronized electromyogram in lower extremity up to 28 cases of ASD.

Free Research Field

scoliosis, gait analysis, electromyogram

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

成人脊柱変形(ASD)に対して、本歩行支援機を装着することによる効果が示されれば、ASD手術後の歩行速度アップを目的としたリハビリテーションの道具として、利用できる可能性がある。さらには新規歩行支援機の開発や新規リハビリプログラム作成に繋がる可能性もある。