Enhancing Pediatric Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Study on Soft Knee Robotic

Crouch gait is a common pathology in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), significantly affecting their daily activities. Weak extensor strength and serious spasticity restrict lower limb movement. Restoring the locomotor function in an early stage is critical for individuals with CP. With the advancement of material technology, soft wearable robots integrated with textile technology have developed the characteristics of compliance, lightweight, portability, and strength. This paper introduces the design of a textile-based knee actuator worn on the back of the subject’s knee joint with only 0.2 kg. It investigates the feasibility of this soft knee robotic system through a preliminary study involving two children: 4 years old male and 12 years old female. Preliminary training results demonstrated the feasibility of the soft knee robot in improving crouch gait. The reduction of crouch gait in both the initial contact and midstance phase have been observed. In the gross motor function scale of standing and walking, subjects’ lower limb function improved. These findings show that the proposed soft knee robotic offers a potential solution to improve knee control and locomotor function during walking for children with CP and diagnosed crouch gait.