MyoStep
A pediatric soft wearable exoskeleton for gait assistance
Lead Designer | Researcher
IUCRC Brain Lab
Product Design, Prototyping, User Research
CLO 3D, SolidWorks, Keyshot, Miro, 3D Printing, Sewing
MyoStep is a soft, wearable exoskeleton designed for children aged 4 to 12 with cerebral palsy. Unlike rigid traditional aids, MyoStep is a flexible textile-based suit that supports natural movement and encourages independence.
I led the design of MyoStep as part of an interdisciplinary team at the Brain Machine Interfacing Lab. Collaborating with engineers, clinicians, and researchers, I translated insights from research led by Dr. Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal into a system focused on improving gait support and user comfort.
Guided by the expertise of design faculty Jeff Feng, MFA, and Elham Morshedzadeh, Ph.D., we prototyped and refined MyoStep for future clinical application. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation and presented to DARPA and the NSF.
Gait
(noun)
a person's manner of walking
Gait encompasses various aspects such as walking speed, step length, and rhythm. For children with Cerebral Palsy, gait abnormalities can manifest as difficulties in foot movement, balance, and coordination, often leading to issues like tiptoe walking or foot drop. These challenges are most pronounced in children aged 4 to 12, a critical period for physical development.
MyoStep specifically targets this young age group, focusing on children in the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III. This means they have varying degrees of walking ability but still require assistance to improve balance, speed, and coordination.
Traditional mobility aids and exoskeletons are often rigid, heavy, and designed primarily for adults, making them unsuitable for children who require more adaptable and comfortable solutions.
The one-size-fits-all approach fails to address the unique needs of pediatric users, resulting in devices that are difficult to wear, restrict movement, and do not grow with the child. Additionally, these devices can be intimidating and uncomfortable, discouraging consistent use.
Our team consulted with physiotherapists, kinesiologists, and clinical experts to understand the needs of young users. We immersed ourselves in the experience of young users, analyzing movement challenges, testing passive mobility systems, and identifying how design could reduce barriers to independence. I led the initial research and design visualization efforts, mapping user needs, material options, and constraints across clinical and engineering systems.
Through this process, we identified key limitations in existing mobility aids and explored how soft, textile-based solutions could better support natural movement for children with cerebral palsy.
My goal as a designer was to create a system that aids rehabilitation, builds confidence, and feels approachable for everyday use.
Our research and exploration involved passive and active components to create an effective and user-friendly exosuit.
Passive elements, such as supportive fabrics and ergonomic braces, were chosen to ensure comfort, support, and even distribution of force. While active components, like artificial muscles, were integrated to provide dynamic assistance to the child’s gait.
We started by exploring how to support the form and behavior of natural muscle fibers. Early sketches focused on assistive wear that feels like everyday clothing, such as socks, shoes, warmers, and pants. The goal was to balance clinical needs with comfort, wearability, and dignity for the child.
We engaged in continuous prototyping and iteration, refining the design to ensure seamless integration and strong performance. Over several months, we conducted bench testing of active components, revised garment patterns for better fit, and explored a range of fabrics for optimal flexibility, durability, and comfort. Each version focused on reducing bulk, aligning support zones with natural movement, and making the exosuit easy to use for both children and their caregivers.
Initial user testing focused on fit and sensor accuracy with pediatric subjects ensuring that the compression fabric was safe and comfortable.
Simultaneously, sensors embedded in the first layer were evaluated for their ability to monitor and respond to the user's movements accurately.
Feedback from users and caregivers was gathered to make necessary adjustments, ensuring the exosuit fit well and the sensors functioned correctly.
MyoStep is still in development, with ongoing refinements based on test results and expert feedback to ensure optimal performance and usability.
Independence
(noun)
Freedom from the control, influence, support, air, or the like, of others.
MyoStep is designed as a one-piece garment, making it simple and practical for both children and their caregivers. The exosuit is sized like regular clothing, available in various sizes to accommodate different body types and growth stages, ensuring a snug and comfortable fit that supports the child’s natural movements. For maintenance, the exosuit includes accessible openings that allow the artificial muscles and other components to be easily removed for washing. This thoughtful design ensures that keeping the garment clean and functional is straightforward, reducing the overall burden on caregivers while ensuring the exosuit remains hygienic and effective.
Our primary goal is to motivate children to wear assistive devices by making them as user-friendly as possible, fostering a sense of independence as they grow. Studies show that children with Cerebral Palsy often face ambulatory and cognitive difficulties, which make self-care and independent living challenging. By incorporating these thoughtful design elements, MyoStep aims to empower children to dress themselves, promoting both their physical and emotional development.
MyoStep is designed with side straps and discreet zippers to promote ease of use and independence for children with mobility challenges. These features are strategically placed to enable children, particularly those with Cerebral Palsy, to don and doff the exosuit with minimal assistance.
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The side straps provide an easy grip for both children and caregivers, making it simpler to pull the suit on and off.
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The zippers are positioned on the sides for easy access, allowing the suit to be put on without struggle.
Myo
(prefix)
of muscle; relating to muscles
MyoStep integrates multiple layers to provide both support and mobility in three layers:
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The first layer, made from a compression fabric for support, houses sensors that monitor the user's movements while offering comfort and protection from other components and safeguarding the components from bodily fluids.
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The second layer consists of artificial muscles that mimic natural muscle movements to assist the child in walking.
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The third layer covers and protects these artificial muscles, incorporating features for breathability and ease of maintenance.
Together, these layers work harmoniously to provide a lightweight, silent, and flexible solution that operates subtly and unobtrusively, designed for use during both therapy sessions and high-activity periods to reduce physical and emotional strain.
