Fig. 3

Average electromyographic (aEMG) activity during assisted walking. We assessed a total of four upper and five lower limb muscles (mean ± SE; n = 8; see list of abbreviations). Each value is expressed relative to normal walking, representing a baseline of 100% (dashed black line). This data reveals a muscular shift characterized by greater arm and lesser leg muscle activity. Most notably, the arm’s triceps and biceps were the primary muscles to help transmit the assistive force onto the whole body during the propulsive phase, which reduced the leg’s medial gastrocnemius and soleus demand. * indicates a significant difference from baseline, p < 0.05