A VR-haptic locomotor system to retrain anticipatory postural adjustments post stroke

The ability to use haptic input through light contact to improve stability while walking post-stroke is investigated in a virtual environment (VE). Persons with stroke and healthy participants walk in a VE where they encounter changes in the slope of the support surface. Kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic data analyses will be used to show the anticipatory postural adjustments made leading up to and after a transition to a sloped surface. Pilot testing shows that the transition to sloped surface is more challenging for the stroke participant tested, as compared to an age-matched control. Modifications to the current protocol will improve the feasibility of not only task completion by both healthy and neurologically impaired participants, but also the ability to use and evaluate the use of haptic information for stability while walking in a VE with slope changes.