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Enhancing Voluntary Motion in Broad Patient Populations With Modular Powered Orthoses

University of Michigan · with National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) · NCT05240014

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–85 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
33
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
July 29, 2022
Record last updated
July 18, 2025

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The overall goal of this project is to develop modular, lower-limb, powered orthoses that fit to user-specific weakened joints and control force/torque in a manner that enhances voluntary motion in broad patient populations. This project aims to establish feasibility of assisting different populations with these modular powered orthoses. The investigators hypothesize that assisting lower-limb musculature with modular powered orthoses will improve 1) lifting/lowering posture in able-bodied subjects and 2) functional outcomes in elderly subjects.

Being studied: Modular powered orthosis

Conditions: Lower-limb Orthoses; Frailty/Sarcopenia; Chronic Overuse Musculoskeletal Injuries

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion criteria for able-bodied, young participants will be:

  • Aged between 18 to 65 years
  • Weigh less than 250 lbs due to limitations in the design of the orthoses
  • Ability to lift and lower a 10 kg weight using the neutral-spine squat technique for 10 repetitions

Exclusion criteria for able-bodied, young adult participants will be:

  • Pregnant (self-report)
  • Any significant neuromuscular or musculoskeletal disorder that would interfere with the study
  • Prior history of chronic lower-back pain
  • Unable to walk for 20 minutes
  • History of any cardiovascular, vestibular, or visual diseases and/or impairments that may interfere with the study
  • Cognitive deficits that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. Cognitive deficits will be determined by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of \<22.
  • Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape

Inclusion criteria for elderly participants will be:

  • Aged between 65 to 85 years
  • Weigh less than 250 lbs due to limitations in the design of the orthoses
  • Ability to walk 6 minutes without assistance from a person (may use walking aid)

Exclusion criteria for elderly participants will be:

  • Pregnant (self-report)
  • Significant pain due to arthritis or other joint problems that would limit their ability to walk
  • Any recent lower-extremity fracture (within 3 months)
  • Significant neurological (e.g., stroke), orthopedic, or cardiovascular disorder that may affect the ability to walk
  • Advised by a physician not to walk or exercise
  • Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes
  • Cognitive deficits or visual impairment that would impair their ability to give informed consent or impair their ability to follow simple instructions during the experiments. Cognitive deficits will be determined by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of \<22.
  • Adults with a known allergy to medical grade tape

Recruiting US locations

  • Rehab Lab, University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, MI 48109

    Site contact: Emily Klinkman, MS · 734-763-1156 · emilykk@umich.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Emily Klinkman, MS · 734-763-1156 · emilykk@umich.edu
  • Robert Gregg, PhD · 734-763-1156 · rdgregg@umich.edu
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Enhancing Voluntary Motion in Broad Patient Populations With… (NCT05240014) | Bored Studies