Verification of Generalizability of Walking Assist Status Index Using Electromyography

In this paper, we aim to examine whether the result of our previous research that the value of gastrocnemius muscle activity can be used as an index of walking support is able to be generalized. In the previous study, we found the walking assist device (ACSIVE) supports the gastrocnemius muscle and proposed EMG map in which the walking support effect and the state of muscle fatigue can be visually indicated by using electromyography. However, since this result was based on a short-time walking for one participant, there remained an issue of regarding the possibility of generalization. This time, due to the influence of COVID-19, it was not possible to carry out the experiments with a large number of participants, but it was confirmed that similar results were obtained among different participants even for a long-time walking. Therefore, it can be said that important results showing the generalizability of the proposed index were obtained.