Gait impairments and lower extremity weakness are widespread issues affecting older adults, individuals with neurological conditions, and athletes, often leading to increased fall risk and reduced independence. Low-cost elastic bands are frequently used in rehabilitation, yet their biomechanical effects on walking remain poorly understood. This case study evaluated how two elastic-assisted devices, a novel gait device and a Thera-Band configuration, influence walking biomechanics in a healthy adult male. Using 3D motion capture and an instrumented treadmill, we compared joint angles, vertical ground reaction forces, and spatiotemporal gait parameters across three conditions: unassisted walking, Thera-Band assisted walking, and walking with the novel gait device. Joint angles, vertical ground reaction forces, and spatiotemporal parameters were similar across the three conditions. However, subjective feedback indicated the novel gait device required less perceived effort than the other conditions. While the elastic-assisted walking conditions seemed to maintain the biomechanics of natural, unassisted gait, the perceived reduction in effort suggests potential benefits that warrant further investigation. Future research should include a larger sample, and investigation into additional kinetic and electromyographic variables to better characterize the biomechanics of elastic-assisted gait. These foundational biomechanical insights may ultimately inform the development of more effective elastic-assisted rehabilitation technologies.
