Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42535025›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology2026

A hip extensor-assistive soft exosuit training redistributes plantar pressure in older adults: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

Na Young Yun, Jaeha Yang, Kyeongmin Lim, Sejun Park, Giho Lee, Byeongjun Cho, Giuk Lee, Ho Seok Lee, Don-Kyu Kim, Hyun Iee Shin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Na Young YunDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jaeha YangSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kyeongmin LimSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sejun ParkSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Giho LeeSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Byeongjun ChoSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Giuk LeeSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Ho Seok LeeDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Don-Kyu Kim *Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Iee Shin *Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Age-related gait decline is associated with reduced heel loading, forefoot overloading, and impaired gait stability. Soft wearable robotic suits that assist hip extension may improve gait biomechanics, but evidence for training-induced carry-over effects on plantar pressure distribution remains limited in community-dwelling older adults. This study investigated whether a short-term gait training program using a hip extensor-assistive soft wearable robotic suit could modify plantar pressure and spatiotemporal gait parameters under device-free assessment conditions. Methods: In this prospective, single-center, randomized controlled pilot trial, 42 community-dwelling older adults aged 65-79 years were randomly assigned to a robot-assisted training group (n = 21) or a control group (n = 21). Both groups completed a 3-week intervention consisting of six sessions, each including 20 min of treadmill-based gait training and 20 min of strength training. The robot-assisted group wore a cable-driven soft wearable robotic suit providing bilateral hip extension assistance during treadmill training, whereas the control group performed identical training without the device. All post-intervention assessments were conducted without the device. Plantar pressure and spatiotemporal gait parameters were measured using the GAITRite® system at baseline and post-intervention. Results: Compared with the control group, the robot-assisted group showed a greater increase in heel contact area (p = 0.014), greater reductions in forefoot contact area (p = 0.016) and forefoot peak plantar pressure (p = 0.026), and significant time × group interactions for heel contact area (F = 7.273, p = 0.011), forefoot contact area (F = 5.042, p = 0.031), and forefoot peak plantar pressure (F = 5.535, p = 0.024). The robot-assisted group also showed reduced step length (p = 0.005), stride length (p = 0.005), single support time (p = 0.032), and swing phase duration (p = 0.037), along with increased stance phase duration (p = 0.041). Conclusion: Short-term training with a hip extensor-assistive soft wearable robotic suit was associated with changes in plantar loading and gait cycle patterns under device-free assessment conditions, suggesting that gait pattern modifications may occur after repeated training sessions.

Indexed as

gaithip extensor assistanceolder adultsplantar pressurerehabilitationrobot assisted gait trainingsoft wearable robotic suit

Identifiers

PMID42535025
PMCPMC13422521

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.