Spinal cord injuries (SCI) affect 294,000 people in the US, with 17,000 new cases each year. SCI-induced bone loss can lead to osteoporotic fractures and secondary health concerns. Exoskeleton walking therapy has the potential to improve bone strength by loading the previously unloaded lower limbs in a dose-dependent manner. This study characterized the kinetics and kinematics, calculated total loading dose, and quantified the changes in the distal femur and proximal tibia as a result of exoskeleton therapy. Following exoskeleton therapy the amount of bone in the epiphyseal region of the distal femur and proximal tibia, as well as overall distal femur, increased significantly. Additionally, there were positive correlations between the loading dose calculations using femoral bending strength indices when compared to the overall change in bone mass in the distal femur.

Creator

• Mattson, Nicole E.

Contributors

• Troy, Karen
• Morse, Leslie
• Lammert, Adam

Degree

• MS

Unit

• Biomedical Engineering

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• etd-20676

Keyword

• Biomechanics
• Bone adaptation
• Exoskeleton

Advisor

• Troy, Karen

Committee

• Morse, Leslie
• Lammert, Adam

Defense date

• 2021-04-28

Year

• 2021

Date created

• 2021-04-29

Resource type

• Thesis

Rights statement

• In Copyright