Lower-limb rehabilitation exoskeletons offer a transformative approach to enhancing recovery in patients with movement disorders affecting the lower extremities. This comprehensive systematic review delves into the literature on sensor technologies and the control strategies integrated into these exoskeletons, evaluating their capacity to address user needs and scrutinizing their structural designs regarding sensor distribution as well as control algorithms. The review examines various sensing modalities, including electromyography (EMG), force, displacement, and other innovative sensor types, employed in these devices to facilitate accurate and responsive motion control. Furthermore, the review explores the strengths and limitations of a diverse array of lower-limb rehabilitation-exoskeleton designs, highlighting areas of improvement and potential avenues for further development. In addition, the review investigates the latest control algorithms and analysis methods that have been utilized in conjunction with these sensor systems to optimize exoskeleton performance and ensure safe and effective user interactions. By building a deeper understanding of the diverse sensor technologies and monitoring systems, this review aims to contribute to the ongoing advancement of lower-limb rehabilitation exoskeletons, ultimately improving the quality of life for patients with mobility impairments.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of anti-vibration gloves on manual dexterity and to explore factors affecting the manual dexterity. The manual dexterity of ten different gloves was investigated with 15 adult male subjects via performing two different dexterity tests, namely ASTM F2010 standard test and Two-Hand Turning and Placing Minnesota test. Two-factor repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate the main effects of glove type, test method and their interaction effect on manual dexterity. Results suggested that glove type yielded significant effect on manual dexterity (p < .001), while no significant difference was observed between test methods (p = .112). The interaction effect of glove type and test method also revealed a significant difference (p = .009). The manual dexterity decreased nearly linearly with increase in the glove thickness, which further showed a moderately significant difference on the number of drops during the tests. Practitioner Summary: Anti-vibration gloves may adversely affect manual dexterity and work precision, which may discourage their usage. This article presented a study of manual dexterity performance of anti-vibration gloves and the design factors affecting the manual dexterity. The results were discussed in view of a design guidance for improved hand dexterity, which would encourage the use of anti-vibration gloves in the workplace.

This study investigated the seat-to-head vibration transmissibility (STHT) responses of 58 subjects (31 males and 27 females) seated on three different elastic seats with (WB) and without back support (NB) and under three levels of vertical vibration (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 m/s² RMS) in the 0.50–20 Hz range. The STHT responses with elastic seats were significantly different from the widely reported responses with rigid seats, irrespective of sitting and excitation conditions. The peak STHT magnitudes with elastic seats were relatively higher than those obtained with a rigid seat. Moreover, the transmission of seat vibration showed a strong dependence on the elastic properties of the body-seat coupling. The primary resonance frequencies were also significantly different among the elastic seats. Compared to NB conditions, the peak STHT magnitudes and the primary resonance frequencies obtained with WB conditions were significantly lower. An increase in excitation magnitude resulted in a statistically significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the primary resonance frequency.

This study investigated the effects of gender and ten different anthropometric parameters on the vertical vibration transmission from seat to the head of the body seated on an elastic seat. The seat-to-head transmissibility (STHT) responses in the vertical and fore-aft directions of 58 participants (31 males and 27 females) were measured under three levels of vertical vibration (root mean square acceleration: 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 m/s²) in the 0.50–20 Hz range, when sitting on a viscoelastic seat with and without a vertical back support, and with hands on a steering wheel. Apart from the important effects of elastic coupling between the body and seat, the results show distinctly different vertical and fore-aft STHT responses from the two genders. Moreover, the gender effect was strongly coupled with back support and excitation conditions. The primary resonance frequencies of male subjects were higher than those of female subjects, while the peak vertical STHT magnitudes were comparable. Owing to the strong coupled effects of gender and anthropometric dimensions, the study is designed to reduce the coupling by considering datasets for subjects with comparable chosen dimensions. Among the various anthropometric dimensions considered, the body mass and fat mass revealed strong influences on the primary resonance frequency, which was similar for male and female subjects with comparable body mass index and body fat mass. The vertical STHT magnitude of the two genders with the same lean body mass was also nearly identical. The peak fore-aft STHT magnitudes of the male subjects were notably higher than those of the female subjects with comparable anthropometric dimensions with the exception of the body mass.

This study focuses on the integrated performance of anti-vibration (AV) gloves in terms of manual dexterity and distributed palm and fingers’ vibration transmissibility. Experiments were designed to measure vibration transmission and manual dexterity performance of 10 different gloves using 15 subjects. The results showed all gloves impeded manual dexterity, while five gloves satisfied the AV glove screening criteria (ISO 10819, 2013). Glove type yielded a significant effect on manual dexterity (p < 0.001) and vibration transmissibility (p ≤ 0.001). Manual dexterity decreased nearly linearly with increase in glove thickness (p < 0.05), while palm and fingers’ vibration transmissibility in high-frequency range was negatively correlated with glove thickness (R²>0.70). A strong correlation was evident between glove material stiffness and the H- frequency range palm vibration transmissibility (R² ≥0.8). While the vibration isolation of a glove is strongly related to material properties at the palm, the dexterity performance is dependent on design factors such as thickness and bulkiness. Practitioner Summary: Anti-vibration gloves are used to isolate hand from power tools vibration, while these may adversely affect manual dexterity. Vibration isolation was correlated with material properties and thickness, while dexterity was correlated with thickness alone. Glove thickness is a vital parameter for realizing a compromise between vibration isolation and manual dexterity.

The primary aim was to test the construct validity of a surface electromyography (EMG) measurement protocol, indirectly assessing the effects of anti-vibration (AV) gloves on activities of the forearm muscles. AV gloves impose a relatively higher grip demand and thus a higher risk for musculoskeletal disorders. Consequently, activities of the forearm muscles should be considered when assessing AV glove performance. Effects of AV gloves on activities of the forearm muscles (ECR: extensor carpi radialis longus; ED: extensor digitorum; FCR: flexor carpi radialis; FDS: flexor digitorum superficialis) were measured via EMG, while gripping a handle with two grip force levels. Fifteen subjects participated with 11 glove conditions, including one with bare hand. Activities of ECR, FCR, mean of ECR and FCR (ECR_FCR), and mean of all four muscles were sensitive to wearing gloves. Compared with bare hand, combined ECR_FCR activities increased by 22%–78% (mean = 48%, SD = 28%) with gloves. The correlation coefficient (r) of ECR_FCR activities with glove thickness and manual dexterity scores were 0.74 (p < .05) and 0.90 (p < .001), respectively. A refined EMG methodology was the most sensitive to AV gloves with specific forearm muscles (ECR and FCR) and the 50-N handgrip force. Its construct validity was further substantiated by correlations with glove thickness and manual dexterity. Assessment of the effect of AV gloves on activities of the forearm muscles can yield design guidance for AV gloves to reduce grip exertion by the gloved hand.