A Propulsion Neuroprosthesis Improves Overground Walking in Community-Dwelling Individuals After Stroke.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a common neuromotor intervention whereby electrically evoked dorsiflexor muscle contractions assist foot clearance during walking. Plantarflexor neurostimulation has recently emerged to assist and retrain gait propulsion; however, safe and effective coordination of dorsiflexor and plantarflexor neurostimulation during overground walking has been elusive, restricting propulsion neuroprostheses to harnessed treadmill walking. We present an overground propulsion neuroprosthesis that adaptively coordinates, on a step-by-step basis, neurostimulation to the dorsiflexors and plantarflexors.

Enhancing Neuroplasticity in the Chronic Phase After Stroke: Effects of a Soft Robotic Exosuit on Training Intensity and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.

High intensity training may enhance neuroplasticity after stroke; however, gait deficits limit the ability to achieve and sustain high walking training intensities. We hypothesize that soft robotic exosuits can facilitate speed-based gait training at higher intensities and longer durations, resulting in a corresponding increase in circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Eleven individuals >6-mo post-stroke completed a two-session, pilot randomized crossover trial (NCT05138016).

Automation of Functional Mobility Assessments at Home Using a Multimodal Sensor System Integrating Inertial Measurement Units and Computer Vision (IMU-Vision).

Objective: Functional movement assessments are routinely used to evaluate and track changes in mobility. The objective of this study was to evaluate a multimodal movement monitoring system developed for autonomous, home-based, functional movement assessment.

Methods: Fifty frail and prefrail adults were recruited from the Brigham and Women's Hospital at Home program to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of applying the multimodal movement monitoring system to autonomously recognize and score functional activities collected in the home.