Participate in Research

Healthy volunteers and individuals with movement impairments are welcome to participate in our studies.

Ongoing Studies

Ankle exoskeleton worn on the intact leg of a person with a below-knee amputation
Recruiting

Walking with an Ankle Exoskeleton after Below-Knee Amputation

Rehabilitation and Augmentation Lab · Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering · University of California, Irvine

Purpose

The long-term goal of this study is to understand how people with unilateral transtibial amputation learn to use assistive devices, such as ankle exoskeletons. By studying how people adapt and move with these devices, we hope to find better ways to support their walking and improve rehabilitation training.

Summary

In this experiment, you will be asked to come into the Rehabilitation and Augmentation Lab, located in the Engineering Gateway Building, at the University of California, Irvine. You will be asked to walk on a treadmill while wearing an ankle exoskeleton on your intact leg. We will place sensors on your legs and body to record how you walk. You will also be asked to wear a mask over your head to measure your breathing. Experiments may last up to 4 hours, including up to 60 minutes of total walking with breaks.

Eligibility criteria

  • Between 18–65 years of age
  • Must have a unilateral transtibial amputation
  • Must be a K-level of K3 or higher
  • Can walk on a treadmill
  • Can walk for 10 minutes continuously, and up to 60 minutes total (with breaks) over a 4-hour period
  • Have no neurological or cardiovascular conditions which may affect balance
  • Can understand instructions in English

Benefits

Taking part in this study may or may not improve your walking and balance. While the research team hopes that training with the assistive devices improves your motor learning abilities, there is no guarantee of this occurring. This study will help researchers learn more about motor learning mechanisms that can be improved by wearable robotic devices for better gait training and rehabilitation. We hope that information from this study will lead to improved technologies for individuals with disabilities affecting locomotion. Improved robotic device technology may be developed as a result of this study, which might, at some point in the future, result in better commercial exoskeleton products available for you to purchase.

Compensation

Participants will be compensated $25/hour for their participation.

If you are interested in participating, please email Anthony Campoy at atcampoy@uci.edu.