Brace-Type Wearable Robot for Adaptive Lumbar Stabilization: A Pilot Experimental Study

Lumbar braces are recommended for lumbar diseases or low back pain, particularly for use in activities of daily living. However, prolonged use of lumbar braces can lead to functional limitations and side effects such as muscle atrophy and psychological dependence due to their static nature. To address these limitations, this study proposes a wearable robot in the form of a lumbar brace to provide adaptive lumbar stabilization. The proposed robot uses an actuator to drive a tension wire, which applies force to the pulley mechanism located on both sides of the brace. This mechanism provides dynamic abdominal pressure to the torso. The assisting force is determined based on the lumbar motion, which is measured using inertial sensors. By providing abdominal pressure and dynamic support, the proposed robot is able to compensate for the shortcomings of current braces and increase lumbar stability. To assess the effectiveness, a pilot experiment was conducted with five healthy subjects. The subjects performed lumbar-specific exercises, Electromyography and linear acceleration were taken to evaluate the impact on muscle activity and lumbar stability. The results indicated that proposed device is possible to reduce the burden on the muscles and increase the spine stability by dynamically providing abdominal pressure.