500 Section - Effects of a Lightweight Soft-Frame Elastic Exosuit on Physical Function and Mobility in Older Adults: A Pilot Study

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a lightweight (< 1 kg) soft-frame elastic exosuit on physical function and mobility in older adults, including community-dwelling healthy individuals and those with gait impairment.

Design:

This pilot study was conducted using a pre–post design comparing outcomes before and after wearing a lightweight soft-frame elastic exosuit. Community-dwelling healthy older adults and older adults with gait impairment completed standardized assessments of physical function and mobility. Outcome measures included muscle strength (30-second chair stand test, 30CST), gait function (10-meter walk test, timed up and go test), aerobic capacity (6-minute walk test), and functional task performance (lifting low, short carry, and stair climbing). Pre- and post-intervention differences were analyzed using nonparametric statistical methods.

Results:

Twenty participants completed the study. When all participants were analyzed together, significant improvements were observed after exosuit use across multiple domains, including muscle strength, gait function, aerobic capacity, and functional task performance (all p< 0.05). Specifically, 30CST repetitions increased from 14.5±5.4 to 20.3±4.7, and short carry task completion time decreased from 27.0±7.6 to 21.2±4.8 seconds. Subgroup analyses indicated that older adults with gait impairment exhibited greater improvements following exosuit use, particularly in gait- and function-related measures, suggesting larger functional benefits among individuals with lower baseline gait function.

Conclusion:

Use of a lightweight soft-frame elastic exosuit was associated with meaningful improvements in physical function and mobility in older adults. These findings suggest potential benefits for enhancing physical function, particularly in individuals with gait impairment.