An artificial reflex improves the perturbation-resistance of normal and spastic walking - A simulation study -

Walking assist systems should cope with both the external perturbation caused by slips, uneven terrain, slopes, and obstacles, and local function impairment caused by internal factors, like spastic paralysis. It is known that humans are able to cope with these difficulties by different strategies. One is that in the case when external perturbation occurs, especially when the occurrence cannot be predicted or perceived in advance, humans rely on reflexes, which cause unconscious, relatively fixed muscular response patterns to perturbations within a short period of time. Another is that in the case of local function impairment, humans generally develop compensated gait to overcome the falling-down risky factors.