This National Science Foundation project grant of $346,369 will fund the development of a novel gait training method for individuals after stroke from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2025. The funding supports Syracuse University under the NSF Engineering Directorate's program to improve quality of life and economic strength through engineering innovation.
Specifically, the grant will advance knowledge on enhancing muscle power and propulsion, a key barrier to improved walking after stroke. The project aims to augment function of the stroke-affected leg through a wearable robotic ankle device applying small perturbations to strategically activate ankle muscles during treadmill walking. Researchers will design a unique operant conditioning training protocol to increase ankle muscle activity and force generation for forward propulsion. $50,000 of the funding will support a sub-award to the Medical University of South Carolina for their expert in human reflex conditioning to help finalize experimental procedures and the new loading response conditioning protocol. Outcomes from this research could yield sustaining improvements to leg function after stroke.
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