Photo courtesy of Sage Publications.

(05/07/2025) VA researchers and engineers from the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA created an exoskeleton with muscle stimulation to help patients walk after a stroke. The exoskeleton combines muscle stimulation to prompt the muscle groups necessary for walking and standing to activate with mechanical motor assistance for additional strength and movement when the muscles cannot perform. A 52-year-old male who suffered a stroke over four years ago and currently requires a cane to walk tested the device in four walking conditions: no device, muscle stimulation only, motor use only, and coordinated muscle stimulation and motor assistance. The coordinated muscle stimulation and motor assistance outperformed the other conditions and show promise to help stroke survivors return to normal walking. (Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, Mar. 24, 2025)