Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletons
Older adults often experience a decline in functional abilities, affecting their independence and mobility at home. Wearable lower-limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have the potential to serve as both assistive devices to support mobility and training tools to enhance physical capabilities. However, active e...
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| Format: | Article |
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Wearable Technologies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100157/type/journal_article |
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| author | Reinhard Claeys Elissa Embrechts Aikaterini Bourazeri Ruben Debeuf Mahyar Firouzi Matthias Eggermont Siddhartha Lieten Benjamin Filtjens Tom Verstraten Eva Swinnen David Beckwée |
| author_facet | Reinhard Claeys Elissa Embrechts Aikaterini Bourazeri Ruben Debeuf Mahyar Firouzi Matthias Eggermont Siddhartha Lieten Benjamin Filtjens Tom Verstraten Eva Swinnen David Beckwée |
| author_sort | Reinhard Claeys |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Older adults often experience a decline in functional abilities, affecting their independence and mobility at home. Wearable lower-limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have the potential to serve as both assistive devices to support mobility and training tools to enhance physical capabilities. However, active end-user involvement is crucial to ensure LLEs align with users’ needs and preferences. This study employed a co-design methodology to explore home-based LLE requirements from the perspectives of older adults with mobility impairments and physiotherapists. Four older adults with self-reported mobility limitations participated by creating personas to represent different user needs and experiences (i.e., PERCEPT methodology), alongside four experienced physiotherapists who contributed their professional insights. As assistive devices, LLEs were seen as valuable for promoting independence, supporting mobility, and facilitating social participation, with essential activities including shopping, toileting, and outdoor walking. Physiotherapists expressed enthusiasm for integrating LLEs into remote rehabilitation programs, particularly to improve strength, balance, coordination, and walking speed. Key design considerations included a lightweight, discreet device that is easy to don and doff and comfortable for extended wear. Physiotherapists highlighted the potential of digital monitoring to assess physical parameters and personalize therapy. Fatigue emerged as a significant challenge for older adults, reinforcing the need for assistive LLEs to alleviate exhaustion and enhance functional independence. A shortlist of LLE features was drafted and scored, covering activity and design applications. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and usability of home-based LLEs, offering a foundation for developing devices that improve acceptance, usability, and long-term impact on healthy ageing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7880c75561c24a7bbc4a817b8dc7d191 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2631-7176 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wearable Technologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-7880c75561c24a7bbc4a817b8dc7d1912025-08-20T02:37:14ZengCambridge University PressWearable Technologies2631-71762025-01-01610.1017/wtc.2025.10015Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletonsReinhard Claeys0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0300-6777Elissa Embrechts1Aikaterini Bourazeri2Ruben Debeuf3Mahyar Firouzi4Matthias Eggermont5Siddhartha Lieten6Benjamin Filtjens7Tom Verstraten8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7398-5398Eva Swinnen9David Beckwée10Rehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium Brubotics (Human Robotics Research Center), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, BelgiumRehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium Brubotics (Human Robotics Research Center), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, https://ror.org/008x57b05 Universiteit Antwerpen , Wilrijk, Belgium Helmholtz Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, the NetherlandsSchool of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, https://ror.org/02nkf1q06 University of Essex , Colchester, UKRehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium Brubotics (Human Robotics Research Center), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, BelgiumRehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium Brubotics (Human Robotics Research Center), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Brain, Body and Cognition Research Group, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, BelgiumRehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Geriatrics, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgiume-Media Research Lab, Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), https://ror.org/05f950310 KU Leuven , Leuven, Belgium Department of Engineering Systems and Services, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the NetherlandsBrubotics (Human Robotics Research Center), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Federated Labs AI & Robotics (FLAIR), Elsene, Belgium Robotics & Multibody Mechanics Research Group, https://ror.org/02ndjfz59 Flanders Make , Elsene, BelgiumRehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium Brubotics (Human Robotics Research Center), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, BelgiumRehabilitation Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Jette, Belgium Brubotics (Human Robotics Research Center), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Elsene, Belgium Research Group MOVANT, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, https://ror.org/008x57b05 Universiteit Antwerpen , Wilrijk, BelgiumOlder adults often experience a decline in functional abilities, affecting their independence and mobility at home. Wearable lower-limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have the potential to serve as both assistive devices to support mobility and training tools to enhance physical capabilities. However, active end-user involvement is crucial to ensure LLEs align with users’ needs and preferences. This study employed a co-design methodology to explore home-based LLE requirements from the perspectives of older adults with mobility impairments and physiotherapists. Four older adults with self-reported mobility limitations participated by creating personas to represent different user needs and experiences (i.e., PERCEPT methodology), alongside four experienced physiotherapists who contributed their professional insights. As assistive devices, LLEs were seen as valuable for promoting independence, supporting mobility, and facilitating social participation, with essential activities including shopping, toileting, and outdoor walking. Physiotherapists expressed enthusiasm for integrating LLEs into remote rehabilitation programs, particularly to improve strength, balance, coordination, and walking speed. Key design considerations included a lightweight, discreet device that is easy to don and doff and comfortable for extended wear. Physiotherapists highlighted the potential of digital monitoring to assess physical parameters and personalize therapy. Fatigue emerged as a significant challenge for older adults, reinforcing the need for assistive LLEs to alleviate exhaustion and enhance functional independence. A shortlist of LLE features was drafted and scored, covering activity and design applications. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and usability of home-based LLEs, offering a foundation for developing devices that improve acceptance, usability, and long-term impact on healthy ageing.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100157/type/journal_articleexoskeletonsdesignperformance augmentationrehabilitation robotics |
| spellingShingle | Reinhard Claeys Elissa Embrechts Aikaterini Bourazeri Ruben Debeuf Mahyar Firouzi Matthias Eggermont Siddhartha Lieten Benjamin Filtjens Tom Verstraten Eva Swinnen David Beckwée Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletons Wearable Technologies exoskeletons design performance augmentation rehabilitation robotics |
| title | Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletons |
| title_full | Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletons |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletons |
| title_short | Understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home-based lower-limb exoskeletons |
| title_sort | understanding the perspectives of older adults and physiotherapists on home based lower limb exoskeletons |
| topic | exoskeletons design performance augmentation rehabilitation robotics |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2631717625100157/type/journal_article |
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