A new wearable “soft exosuit” developed by researchers in Korea may help people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) lift their arms and shoulders, according to a recent study published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.
Unlike existing systems — which are bulky — this shoulder exosuit is made of lightweight artificial muscles woven from tiny springs. When warmed by a safe electric current, the springs contract, mimicking natural muscle movement. The device is the weight of a typical sweatshirt, folds like clothing and works quietly, making it more practical for daily wear.
With the suit on, patients could raise their arms to the side of their body about 57% higher than without it. The suit also gave some help when moving the arms forward (such as reaching for a cup on a table), improving this movement by about 9%. Patients could more easily drink from a cup, touch their front hairline and pour water into a cup when wearing the exosuit.
No serious side effects occurred, though one participant experienced temporary mild soreness.
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“These results further support the potential role of the soft shoulder exosuit in the rehabilitation and assistance of patients with DMD, emphasizing its safety and positive effects on the functional performance of activities of daily living,” the researchers said.
However, they noted that there is still room for improvement. The suit worked best for raising the arms to the side but provided less help with lifting them forward. By enabling greater shoulder movement, the device sometimes increased strain on trunk muscles. Over time, this could cause posture issues or back discomfort. Additionally, users currently need to activate the suit through a smartphone app, which may not be practical for those with limited hand strength.
The researchers plan to develop future versions with better trunk muscle support and more intuitive controls, making the device safer and more effective for long-term use.
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