The Effects of a Lower Body Exoskeleton Load Carriage Assistive Device on Limits of Stability and Postural Sway

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of using a lower body prototype exoskeleton (EXO) on Soldiers static limits of stability and postural sway. Ten Army enlisted men participated in the study. Limits of stability and postural sway were measured while participants stood on a force platform. Soldiers were tested with and without the EXO (15 kg) while carrying three load configurations: fighting load (20 kg), approach march load (40 kg), and emergency approach march load (55 kg). Body lean to the left and right was significantly less and postural sway excursions and maximal range of movement were significantly reduced when the EXO was used. Hurst values indicated that body sway was less random over short-term time intervals and more random over long-term time intervals with the EXO than without it. The use of an EXO prototype changes both the individual s limits of stability and postural sway.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA481786

Entities

People

  • Carolyn K. Bensel
  • Jeffrey M. Schiffman
  • John P. Obusek
  • Karen N. Gregorczyk
  • Leif Hasselquist
  • Louis Piscitelle

Organizations

  • United States Army Soldier Systems Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acquisition
  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Assistive Technologies
  • Boundaries
  • Control Systems
  • Data Acquisition
  • Emergencies
  • Exoskeleton
  • Intervals
  • Models
  • Protective Clothing
  • Protective Equipment
  • Prototypes
  • Standards
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Time Intervals

Readers

  • Exercise and Sports Science.
  • Marine Hydrodynamics