Height compensation foam pads are a critical control variable used to maintain experimental validity. They are attached to the sole of the non-assisted shoe to equalize leg length, compensating for the added height of the exoskeleton worn on the opposite leg.
By neutralizing physical height discrepancies, these pads ensure that any measured reduction in effort is strictly due to the device's torque assistance, rather than the user's natural attempt to correct their balance.
The Mechanics of Experimental Integrity
Achieving Biomechanical Symmetry
When a user wears a unilateral exoskeleton, the device often adds thickness to the sole of the assisted foot. This creates an immediate leg length discrepancy.
Height compensation foam pads eliminate this unevenness. By placing them on the non-assisted shoe, researchers ensure the wearer maintains a neutral, level posture.
Preventing Postural Deviations
Without compensation, a participant would be forced to lean or adjust their stance to remain upright.
This leads to biomechanical deviation, particularly during dynamic movements like squats. The body naturally shifts weight to manage the height difference, creating an unnatural movement pattern.
Isolating the Variable
The goal of these experiments is to measure the efficacy of the exoskeleton's torque support.
By using foam pads, researchers remove the "noise" of postural correction. This guarantees that changes in muscle activity and metabolic cost are direct results of the assistance provided by the machine.
The Risks of Neglecting Compensation
Skewed Metabolic Data
If a participant is constantly adjusting their balance, they consume energy just to stay stable.
This additional energy expenditure can mask the true metabolic savings provided by the exoskeleton. The data becomes a reflection of the user's struggle to balance, rather than the device's efficiency.
Inaccurate Muscle Activity Readings
Biomechanical deviation forces muscles to fire differently to compensate for the uneven height.
This results in electromyography (EMG) readings that reflect compensatory stabilization rather than the actual load reduction on the targeted muscles.
Ensuring Data Accuracy in Your Trials
If your primary focus is Biomechanical Analysis:
- Ensure the foam pad thickness matches the exoskeleton's sole profile precisely to prevent kinematic alterations during squats.
If your primary focus is Metabolic Efficiency:
- Use height compensation to confirm that energy savings are derived strictly from torque support, not postural adjustments.
The integrity of your data relies on isolating the device's performance from the user's need to compensate for physical imbalances.
Summary Table:
| Feature | Purpose | Impact on Research Data |
|---|---|---|
| Symmetry | Equalizes leg length | Maintains neutral posture and level stance |
| Variable Isolation | Removes balance 'noise' | Ensures results stem from torque, not posture |
| Metabolic Control | Reduces extra energy use | Prevents skewed readings from balance correction |
| EMG Integrity | Prevents muscle compensation | Provides accurate muscle load reduction data |
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References
- Prakyath Kantharaju, Myunghee Kim. Reducing Squat Physical Effort Using Personalized Assistance From an Ankle Exoskeleton. DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2022.3186692
This article is also based on technical information from 3515 Knowledge Base .
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