Assessment of Exoskeleton Devices to Enhance Mobility of Warfighters with Leg Fractures

The objective of this study is to develop and systematically assess and compare the performance of a hands-free crutch to a hip-assisted exoskeleton device in the ability to aid the mobility of an individual with a leg fracture. To achieve this objective, the BHSAI will develop computational models to simulate walking with such devices and predict the resulting body biomechanical responses. To develop and validate these models, the BHSAI team will utilize experimental data from healthy individuals walking with and without a hands-free crutch collected by Dr. Meardon and her team at East Carolina University.

Scholars @ ECU