Engineering and Technology
Sejal Shah, BS
Research Assisstant
Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Shantanu Sarkar, MS
Research Assitant
Laboratory for Non-invasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, IUCRC BRAIN, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Aime J Aguilar Herrera, MS
Research Assitant
Laboratory for Non-invasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, IUCRC BRAIN, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Elham Morshedzadeh, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Industrial Design, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Elena Grassi, PhD
Lecturer
Cullen College of Engineering Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Paige A. Willson, MA
Instructional Professor
Dept. of Production & Design, School of Theatre & Dance, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Jeff Feng, MS
Professor
Dept. of Industrial Design, Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Zheng Chen, PhD
Bill D. Cook Associate Professor
Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Francisco C Robles Hernandez, PhD
Professor
Division of Technology, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Christopher J. Arellano, PhD
Associate Professor
Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery and Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, United States
David R. Jackson, PhD
Professor, Department of ECE
University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Gerard E. Francisco, MD (he/him/his)
Professor and Chair
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School
Houston, Texas, United States
Jose L L. Contreras-Vidal, PhD
Director, NSF IUCRC BRAIN Center
Laboratory for Non-invasive Brain-Machine Interface Systems, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, IUCRC BRAIN, University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States
Children with cerebral palsy with the GMFCS levels I–III often face challenges in mobility and social participation, mainly due to gait abnormality. Although pediatric neuromuscular rehabilitative devices show therapeutic promise, current options—e.g. clinical exoskeletons or AFO– are often limited to a clinical setting, restrictive, visually stigmatizing, and difficult to integrate into everyday life. This study explores a child-centeric approach in developing an adaptive garment, functions as a Functioning as, assistive, and diagnostic tool, prioritizing usability and integration in daily routines. This research highlights discretion, adjustability, and adaptive rehabilitation tailored to children with CP and their community.
Design: An interdisciplinary team of engineers, designers, and clinicians, using a mixed-methods design process, guided the early development of a lifestyle-aware soft exoskeleton (MayoStep). This design incorporated multimodal seexong (EMG, IMUs) systems, while considering users’ needs in fit, usability, ergonomics, adjustability and sensor placement requirements. Current iteration is a pants like exo made by lightweight, flexible material, and adjustable support points and closures
Results: Preliminary analysis with a 6-year-old healthy child confirmed that sEMG sensors on the right TA and IMU sensors on the right leg can be integrated into a garment while maintaining signal quality during functional movement such as dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. For the 20 dorsiflexion-plantarflexion trials, the Kruskal–Wallis statistical test indicated no significant difference within sEMG trial signals (p = 0.28, alpha=0.01). We noticed the sEMG signal lagged the joint angle by roughly 100–300 ms and confirmed the electromechanical delays. Across 20 trials, the peak negative mean correlation (–0.25 ± 0.16) was observed at –140 ms. Additionally, the usability assessment confirmed ease of donning and doffing, enabling comfortable movement and a natural integration into the user’s routine.
Conclusion:
Preliminary analysis indicates that wearable rehabilitative garments for children with gait disabilities promise capabilities that enable adaptive rehabilitation, monitoring, while promoting usability, independence, and self-confidence.
