Optimizing Ankle Exoskeleton Assistance for Walking Across the Life Span

Inclusion Criteria

• Subjects must be able to walk for 60 minutes in a 90-minute time frame.
• Subjects are apparently free of cardiovascular, metabolic, and renal disease, which includes no signs or symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular, metabolic or renal disease.
• Subjects have no current musculoskeletal injury.
• Subjects need to be either 18-45 or 65+ years old.

These criteria meet the American College of Sports Medicine's 2015 guidelines for participant health screening prior to joining a moderate or moderate-to-vigorous exercise protocol. (Riebe et al., 2015).

Exclusion Criteria

• Have dementia or an inability to give informed consent
• Have a musculoskeletal injury or feel pain while walking
• Have a history of dizziness and/or balance problems
• Have cardiovascular, heart, metabolic, or renal disease, or respiratory problems
• Smoke cigarettes
• Asthma
• Feel pain or discomfort in the chest, neck, jaw, arms during rest or exercise
• Have orthopnea or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
• Have ankle edema
• Have palpitations or tachycardia
• Have a heart murmur
• Have had a heart attack
• Have diabetes
• Have a pace maker
• Have unusual shortness of breath with usual activities
• Are <18 or 46-64 years of age
• Do not speak or understand English