About this Research Topic
Over the past decade, diverse exoskeletons have been developed to aid in walking and promote motor recovery. The potential therapeutic effects of exoskeleton gait training (EGT) in a variety of disorders, including spinal cord injury patients (SCI) are key factors driving research in this field.
Given that the effectiveness of assistive exoskeleton gait alone in severely paralyzed individuals may be limited for the recovery of locomotor function, there is a growing emphasis on combined interventions. Specifically, attention is directed towards incorporating spinal cord neuromodulation alongside exoskeleton gait training and using hybrid orthoses. This approach aims to mitigate the risk of failure or unwanted aberrant plastic alterations during exoskeleton gait training and prevent inappropriate spatiotemporal integration of activity in the spinal pattern generation circuitry.
Despite these advancements, the technological complexity and current limitation in the locomotor capabilities of exoskeletons, pose ongoing challenges. Addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving fully functional and optimally effective lower limb assistive exoskeletons for practical settings.
This Research Topic aims to present and discuss the available evidence, basic issues, and clinical aspects related to the interactions between humans and exoskeletons, with a particular focus on the long-term sensorimotor adaptations during walking in the exoskeleton. These encompass a diverse range of subtopics, including the neuromechanics of walking in the exoskeleton, assisted-as-needed technologies, neural prostheses, activity-dependent plasticity of spinal neuronal networks by sensory feedback, biomechanical models, functional evaluation of outcomes of exoskeleton gait, neuromodulation of the spinal locomotor network, and personalized therapies.
Our goal is to encourage collaboration across different research areas and techniques, offering a comprehensive perspective on different facets and components of exoskeleton gait training.
By bringing together researchers actively involved in the use of EGT for various applications we aim to create a platform for fruitful interdisciplinary research output sharing.
We welcome submission of Original Research, Reviews, Methods, and Perspective articles on the following sub-topics:
• Neural interface integration: Functional assessment and appropriate procedures and metrics for exploring methods to integrate exoskeletons with neural interfaces for a more intuitive and natural gait rehabilitation process.
• Neuroplasticity enhancement through exoskeleton training: impact of exoskeleton gait training on neuroplasticity and motor learning for long-term outcomes.
• Neuromechanics of gait in the exoskeleton. Therapeutic benefits of exoskeleton gait training.
• Exoskeleton gait training combined with spinal cord neuromodulation.
• Characterization of motor control profiles in SCI patients for better neuromodulation approach
• Personalized Exoskeleton Design: customizing exoskeletons based on individual biomechanical profiles and gait characteristics.
• Mechanical structures to improve the energy efficiency of exoskeletons for extended use.
• Human-robot interaction and dynamics in exoskeleton-assisted gait training and its implications on rehabilitation.
• Studying adaptive control algorithms for improving exoskeletons’ adaptation to different terrains and patient patterns of walking.
Given that the effectiveness of assistive exoskeleton gait alone in severely paralyzed individuals may be limited for the recovery of locomotor function, there is a growing emphasis on combined interventions. Specifically, attention is directed towards incorporating spinal cord neuromodulation alongside exoskeleton gait training and using hybrid orthoses. This approach aims to mitigate the risk of failure or unwanted aberrant plastic alterations during exoskeleton gait training and prevent inappropriate spatiotemporal integration of activity in the spinal pattern generation circuitry.
Despite these advancements, the technological complexity and current limitation in the locomotor capabilities of exoskeletons, pose ongoing challenges. Addressing these challenges is crucial for achieving fully functional and optimally effective lower limb assistive exoskeletons for practical settings.
This Research Topic aims to present and discuss the available evidence, basic issues, and clinical aspects related to the interactions between humans and exoskeletons, with a particular focus on the long-term sensorimotor adaptations during walking in the exoskeleton. These encompass a diverse range of subtopics, including the neuromechanics of walking in the exoskeleton, assisted-as-needed technologies, neural prostheses, activity-dependent plasticity of spinal neuronal networks by sensory feedback, biomechanical models, functional evaluation of outcomes of exoskeleton gait, neuromodulation of the spinal locomotor network, and personalized therapies.
Our goal is to encourage collaboration across different research areas and techniques, offering a comprehensive perspective on different facets and components of exoskeleton gait training.
By bringing together researchers actively involved in the use of EGT for various applications we aim to create a platform for fruitful interdisciplinary research output sharing.
We welcome submission of Original Research, Reviews, Methods, and Perspective articles on the following sub-topics:
• Neural interface integration: Functional assessment and appropriate procedures and metrics for exploring methods to integrate exoskeletons with neural interfaces for a more intuitive and natural gait rehabilitation process.
• Neuroplasticity enhancement through exoskeleton training: impact of exoskeleton gait training on neuroplasticity and motor learning for long-term outcomes.
• Neuromechanics of gait in the exoskeleton. Therapeutic benefits of exoskeleton gait training.
• Exoskeleton gait training combined with spinal cord neuromodulation.
• Characterization of motor control profiles in SCI patients for better neuromodulation approach
• Personalized Exoskeleton Design: customizing exoskeletons based on individual biomechanical profiles and gait characteristics.
• Mechanical structures to improve the energy efficiency of exoskeletons for extended use.
• Human-robot interaction and dynamics in exoskeleton-assisted gait training and its implications on rehabilitation.
• Studying adaptive control algorithms for improving exoskeletons’ adaptation to different terrains and patient patterns of walking.
Keywords: exoskeleton, neuromechanics, rehabilitation, gait training, neural prostheses, assisted technologies, sensory feedback, biomechanical models
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
