The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, in partnership with Results Group LLC, is submitting this three-year
research grant. The goal of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of novel exoskeleton footwear with integrated spring footplate (FlyBand ExoShoe) in patients with transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) after wound closure. The objectives are: 1) Engineering and benchtop evaluation of passive exoskeleton footwear with different stiffness levels with integrated carbon fiber footplate; 2) Evaluate the improvement in gait biomechanics in patients with TMA when walking with FlyBand ExoShoe compared to regular diabetic shoes; 3) Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of using FlyBand ExoShoe in patients with TMA for their daily use. Anticipated outcomes include: 1) identify two optimal spring plate stiffness; 2) determine foot pressure, energy cost, joint angles, joint torque, and ground reaction forces during walking; 3) understand the patients' comfort, rate of perceived exertion, and anticipated compliance regarding FlyBand ExoShoe to use for their daily use. Our expective product is that if our hypotheses are correct, the findings will lead to conducting a full-stage clinical trial with proper power analysis, and patients will wear the FlyBand ExoShoe for three months as an intervention. The multi-disciplinary research team, including a gait biomechanist, engineers, physicians, podiatrists, physical therapists, and biostatisticians, will provide the best possible technical skills and experience to finish the project successfully.
Out of the three interrelated domains aimed by the NIDILRR’s research program under the Long-Range Plan, our research project focuses on the second domain: Health and Function. According to NIDILRR's FOA, the proposed research study corresponds to stage (b), “Intervention development.”
