Soft Robotic Exosuit Can Help Stroke Patients

Soft wearable robotic exosuits can help patients walk after strokes, a new study finds. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States. More than 6.5 million Americans are stroke survivors, and the vast majority of them never fully recover the ability to walk. "The fact that many stroke survivors can't, say, walk to the store can in turn lead to a downward spiral when it comes to their health and quality of life," Conor Walsh, a soft roboticist at Harvard University. Recent breakthroughs in exoskeleton technology have shown promise as advances over canes, walkers, orthotics, and other traditional aides for stroke patients.