Kinetic Gait Changes after Robotic Exoskeleton Training in Adolescents and Young Adults with Acquired Brain Injury

Table 2

Outcome measures.

Outcome measure	Description	Statistical analysis
Total vertical pressure (TVP)	TVP during the stance phase of each gait cycle was computed, and an average TVP for all gait cycles was calculated for both the legs without and with RE that was computed for each subject and for the HC. The TVP was normalized to 100% of stance in each condition for comparison. The stance phase was further divided into initial double support (IDS) and terminal double support (TDS) phases based on heel strike and toe off. The IDS pressure was computed as the pressure between ipsilateral heel strikes to contralateral toe off. The TDS pressure was computed as the pressure between contralateral heel strikes to ipsilateral toe off. Mean and standard deviation TVP for all participants with ABI was computed.
Linearity of loading (goodness of fit)	A best fit line was computed for the average IDS loading phase for each session for each subject. A goodness of the fit was computed to assess the error between the fitted line and the average loading during IDS for each subject in each session.; The goodness of fit was used to assess the smooth linearity of loading. -square () was computed to assess the square of the correlation between average loading during IDS and the best fit line. A higher value signifies a closer fit to the best fit line or increased linearity.	Kolmogorov- Smirnov test () of normality showed that the data were not normal. Wilcoxson signed rank test was used to determine the therapeutic effect (baseline to follow-up without RE) on goodness of fit.
Rate of linear loading (slope of initial loading)	The slope of the average IDS loading phase was computed for each subject. Slope indicates the rate of linear loading. Increased slope in the IDS phase indicates an increased moment during the first rocker.	Kolmogorov- Smirnov test () of normality showed that the data were normal. A paired sample -test was performed to determine the therapeutic effect (baseline to follow-up without RE) on the slope of initial loading.
Walking speed	The average walking speed was computed for each subject as the linear distance with respect to time to complete a gait cycle.	Kolmogorov- Smirnov test () of normality showed that the data were normal. A paired sample -test was performed to determine the therapeutic effect (baseline to follow-up without RE) on walking speed.
Step length	The average step length for each gait cycle was computed as the forward linear displacement between foot contact of the ipsilateral leg to foot contact of the contralateral leg during each gait cycle. Average step length was computed for each subject.	Kolmogorov- Smirnov test () of normality showed that the data were normal. A paired sample -test was performed to determine the therapeutic effect (baseline to follow-up without RE) on step length.
Temporal measures	Total time was computed as the time between foot contact of one leg to the subsequent foot contact of the same leg. The average total time was computed for each gait cycle. Further, average swing time for each subject during each condition was computed as the time between the foot off the floor of one leg to foot contact of the same leg during the gait cycle. Average stance time for each subject during each condition was computed as the time between the foot contact of one leg to toe off the same leg during the gait cycle.	Kolmogorov- Smirnov test () of normality showed that the data were not normal. Wilcoxson signed rank test was used to the therapeutic effect (baseline to follow-up without RE) on total time, swing time, and stance time.