David Beckwée
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David Beckwée is a Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. His research focuses on kinematic assessment methods and their implications in movement analysis, particularly in the context of subacute and chronic low back pain. Additionally, he explores the predictive values of physical tests, such as the multiple hop test, in relation to ankle injuries.
Positions (2)
Articles (3)
A State-of-the-Art of Exoskeletons in Line with the WHO’s Vision on Healthy Aging: From Rehabilitation of Intrinsic Capacities to Augmentation of Functional Abilities
The global aging population faces significant health challenges, including an increasing vulnerability to disability due to natural aging processes. Wearable lower limb exoskeletons (LLEs) have emerged as a promising solution to enhance physical function in older individuals. This systematic review synthesizes the use of LLEs in alignment with the WHO’s healthy aging vision, examining their impact on intrinsic capacities and functional abilities. We conducted a comprehensive literature search in six databases, yielding 36 relevant articles covering older adults (65+) with various health conditions, including sarcopenia, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, osteoarthritis, and more. The interventions, spanning one to forty sessions, utilized a range of LLE technologies such as Ekso®, HAL®, Stride Management Assist®, Honda Walking Assist®, Lokomat®, Walkbot®, Healbot®, Keeogo Rehab®, EX1®, overground wearable exoskeletons, Eksoband®, powered ankle–foot orthoses, HAL® lumbar type, Human Body Posturizer®, Gait Enhancing and Motivation System®, soft robotic suits, and active pelvis orthoses. The findings revealed substantial positive outcomes across diverse health conditions. LLE training led to improvements in key performance indicators, such as the 10 Meter Walk Test, Five Times Sit-to-Stand test, Timed Up and Go test, and more. Additionally, enhancements were observed in gait quality, joint mobility, muscle strength, and balance. These improvements were accompanied by reductions in sedentary behavior, pain perception, muscle exertion, and metabolic cost while walking. While longer intervention durations can aid in the rehabilitation of intrinsic capacities, even the instantaneous augmentation of functional abilities can be observed in a single session. In summary, this review demonstrates consistent and significant enhancements in critical parameters across a broad spectrum of health conditions following LLE interventions in older adults. These findings underscore the potential of LLE in promoting healthy aging and enhancing the well-being of older adults.
Year:
2024
Collaborators (6)
Lynn Leemans
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Ivan Bautmans
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Francisco-Angel Moreno
Associate Professor
University of Malaga
Eva Swinnen
Professor of Neurological Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Technology
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Reinhard Claeys
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Mahyar Firouzi
Vrije Universiteit Brussel

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