An Active Pelvis Orthosis (APO) for Post-stroke Gait Rehabilitation: a Pilot Study

Prior treatment

• major orthopedic surgery or fractures within the last 90 days (hip, knee, ankle, foot, spine);
• it is recommended that participants treated with anti-spasticity agents (oral, injectable or intrathecal) keep the dosage for these medications constant throughout the study;
• where medically appropriate, all other concomitant medications being taken by a participant at entry into the study should continue at the same dose until end of study.

Other illness

• serious medical conditions (recent myocardial infarction in less than 3 months, uncontrolled congestive heart failure (CHF), uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled seizures);
• leg deep vein thrombosis less than 6 weeks ago;
• other pre-existing neurological disorders (Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia);
• skin wounds, infection or problems at device contact locations;
• cardiac surgery within the last 3 months;
• implanted cardiac devices (pacemakers, ICDs);

Other

• Modified Ashworth Scale \>3 at the hip and/or ankle joints;
• inability to follow verbal 3 step commands;
• severe aphasia causing inability to communicate with the investigators;
• Severe osteoporosis;
• severe hip / knee osteoarthritis with limitation of movement or significant pain;
• use of a colostomy bag;
• patient has recently or is currently participating in research that may influence, in PI's opinion, responses to study intervention;
• pregnancy;
• breastfeeding woman;
• use of assistive device that, in the PI's opinion, could interfere with APO;

• cerebral stroke;
• at least 3 months from cerebral event;
• hemiparesis;
• age \> 18 years;
• SSV greater than 0.3 (m/s);
• SSV less than 0.8 (m/s);
• ability to ambulate with no more than minimal contact assistance;
• maximum hip width range, i.e., distance between Great Trochanters = 430 mm.