Determination of the Loads Applied on the Anatomy and Orthosis During Ambulation With a New Reciprocal Gait Orthosis

Abstract

Various types of orthoses have been designed to enable individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) to stand and walk; however, all of these orthoses have certain problems. A new type of lower limb orthosis was designed and evaluated while five normal subjects walked. Appropriate types of strain gauges were attached on the lateral bar of the orthosis, near the hip joint, in order to measure the loads transmitted through the orthosis. The force applied on the foot, orthosis, and crutch, and the moment applied on the hip joint complex and orthosis were measured during walking with the orthosis. This study showed that the loads applied on the orthosis differed from that reported in the literature and the pattern of the moment and force transmitted through the orthosis was different from those applied on the anatomical structures. The results of this research can be used to enhance lower limb orthotic design for individuals with SCI.