Developing a Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe to Alter Over-Ground Walking Coordination

Abstract

This paper presents a Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe (GEMS) that mimics the desirable kinematics of a split-belt treadmill except that it does so over ground. Split-belt treadmills, with two separate treads running at different speeds, have been found useful in the rehabilitation of persons with asymmetric walking patterns. Although in preliminary testing, beneficial after-effects have been recorded, various drawbacks include the stationary nature of the split-belt treadmill and the inability to keep a person on the split-belt treadmill for an extended period of time. For this reason, the after-effects for long-term gait training are still unknown. The mobile ability of the GEMS outlined in this paper enables it to be worn in different environments such as in one's own house and also enables it to be worn for a longer period of time since the GEMS is completely passive. Healthy subject testing has demonstrated that wearing this shoe for twenty minutes can alter the wearer's gait and will generate after-effects in a similar manner as a split-belt treadmill does.

Figures

Fig. 1

Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe designed to move one foot backward during the stance phase for use in correcting asymmetric gaits.

Fig. 2

Adult Human Walking Gait Cycle. Dark lines show the stance phase, and the dotted lines show toe off, swing phase, and heel contact.

Fig. 3

The GEMS uses the changing vertical and horizontal forces throughout the gait cycle to generate the desired motion passively.

Fig. 4

GEMS Wheel shape. R is the instantaneous radius and L is the distance from ground contact to wheel center.

Fig. 5

GEMS Top view schematic of Unidirectional Dampers and Reset Mechanism. 1. Unidirectional Damper, 2. Steel Chain, 3. Reset Spring, 4. Reset Pulley, 5. GEMS Wheel

Fig. 6

Difference in step length for average baseline and the five walking trials in post-training. Notice that subject 1 exhibits variable aftereffects.

Fig. 7

Difference in step length for average baseline, average post-training, and retention after ten minutes of non-stop walking for all three subjects.