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Wearable Ankle Power Training for Better Mobility in Aging

We are conducting a research project to evaluate the feasibility of a 6-week gait training intervention using a wearable ankle resistance device in older adults. We believe that participants of this training will demonstrate improvements in walking performance (e.g., increased walking speed and push-off intensity).

Age & Gender

  • 60 years ~ 85 years
  • Male, Female, Gender Inclusive

Visit Availability

  • Standard business hours (M-F, 8-5)

Location

North Carolina (Statewide)

What will be asked of you

You will first visit the Applied Biomechanics Laboratory to participate in the consenting process and, for those who are eligible and agree to participate, a baseline session that will take up to 3 hours. You will walk overground to find preferred walking speed, and then begin treadmill walking. You will be comfortably fit with a safety harness and instructed on all safety procedures. You will then walk at their preferred speed on a force-sensing treadmill for 5 min to acclimate to the equipment. You will then complete a randomized series of walking trials at their preferred and maximum safe walking speeds on the treadmill determined during overground walking. In another trial, you will wear the Wearable Ankle Power Training (WearAPT) device for 20 minutes. You will then visit the lab twice per week for 6 weeks. During each visit, you will walk on a treadmill for 20 minutes at their preferred speed while wearing the WearAPT device. Lastly, the baseline procedure will be repeated to conclude the trial.

Incentives

$15/hr, plus a $20 bonus upon completion of all sessions

In-person visits:
8
Total length of participation:
Up to 20 hours total over 6-8 weeks

Looking for Healthy Volunteers

Requirements for healthy volunteers are different than for those with a specific condition. If you are interested in becoming a healthy volunteer for this study, use the below categories to determine if you are able to participate.

Able to participate:

  • Be able to walk without an assistive aid (i.e., walker, cane)
  • Have the full capacity to provide informed consent

Not eligible if:

  • Lower extremity injury or fracture within the last 6 months
  • Neurological disorder of the lower extremity
  • Existing diagnosis of cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal diseases
  • Performs more than 160 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or more than 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic physical activity per week
  • Have a leg prosthesis

Contact the Team

Visit Location

Contact & Visit Location

Primary Contact

Primary Visit Location

UNC Applied Biomechanics Lab
Mary Ellen Jones Building (UNC-Chapel Hill)
116 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

Additional Study Information

Principal Investigator

Jason Franz
Biomedical Engineering - Undergraduate

Study Type

Clinical or Medical
Interventional

Study Topics

Aging
Bones, Joints, Muscles
Movement

IRB Number

25-1104

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