Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In China, there are few studies on the evaluation of gait in normal elder by using gait rehabilitation robot, but no definitive conclusion is drawn.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the indicators of the muscle force, range of motion (ROM), spasticity and so on by using the gait rehabilitation robot, so that to understand the feature of the gait in the elder people.
METHODS: A total of 30 healthy elder people were selected with the age of (62.40±1.58) years old including 15 males and 15 females. The muscle force, spasticity and ROM of all the people were tested with the assessment tools of L-FORCE, L-STIFF and L-ROM in the gait rehabilitation robot.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results of L-FORCE of the elder subjects were indicated that the bilateral hip flexor forces and bilateral knee flexor and extensor forces were different in different genders, which showed significant difference (P < 0.05). Results of L-STIFF of the elder subjects were shown that 60 (°)/s left hip extension, 120 (°)/s left hip flexion and extension spasticity in different genders were different, which had significant difference (P < 0.05). Results of L-ROM of the elder subjects showed that there was no difference of ROM in different genders (P > 0.05). It is indicated that the value of L-FORCE and L-STIFF of healthy elder people are higher in the male than those of in the female. The therapists should consider gender factors in the evaluation of patients with L-STIFF and there is no difference of L-ROM in different genders.