Biomechanical assessment of paraplegic locomotion with hip guidance orthosis (HGO)

Abstract

An evaluation protocol to analyse the biomechanics of paraplegic patients walking with mechanical orthosis (hip guidance orthosis) has been developed and tried out on a group of patients with thoracic lesions due to spinal cord injury. It includes the analysis of kinematic, kinetic and electromyograph (EMG) data acquired simultaneously during walking. Spatio-temporal parameters and kinetic parameters have been established and are presented stressing the differences between patients 'skilled' and 'unskilled' in the use of orthosis. The inertial impli cations of this kind of walking pattern are taken into consideration. Data from the procedure provide useful information for the improvement of rehabilitative treatment, for the quantitative comparison between different walking restoration techniques and for the optimal adaptation of the individual patient to orthosis.