[Purpose] The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of an automated stride
assistance device on gait parameters and energy cost during walking performed by healthy
middle-aged and young females. [Subjects and Methods] Ten middle-aged females and 10 young
females were recruited as case and control participants, respectively. The participants
walked for 3 minutes continuously under two different experimental conditions: with the
device and without the device. Walking distance, mean walking speed, mean step length,
cadence, walk ratio and the physiological cost index during the 3-minutes walk were
measured. [Results] When walking with the stride assistance device, the step length and
walk ratio of the middle-aged group were significantly higher than without it. Also,
during walking without assistance from the device, the physiological cost index of the
middle-aged group significantly increased; whereas during walking with assistance, there
was no change. The intergroup comparison in the middle-aged group showed the physiological
cost index was lower under the experimental condition with assistance provided, as opposed
to the condition without the provision of assistance. [Conclusion] The results of this
study show that the stride assistance device improved the gait parameters of the
middle-aged group but not those of young controls.
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