This randomized crossover proof-of-concept study evaluated the effects of walking with a wearable hip exoskeleton on postprandial glycemic and physiological responses in healthy adults. Participants completed four experimental conditions: seated control, walking without the wearable hip exoskeleton, walking with the Bot-Fit device in Aqua mode, and walking with the Bot-Fit device in Boost mode. The primary aim was to determine whether walking with the wearable hip exoskeleton alters postprandial glucose responses compared with seated control and conventional walking conditions.

This study investigated whether walking with a wearable hip exoskeleton could modulate postprandial glycemic and physiological responses in healthy adults. Using a randomized crossover design, each participant completed four experimental conditions in a controlled laboratory setting: seated control, walking without the wearable hip exoskeleton, walking with the Bot-Fit device in Aqua mode, and walking with the Bot-Fit device in Boost mode.

Postprandial glucose responses were assessed after meal ingestion during each experimental trial. Physiological responses, including heart rate, perceived exertion, and energy expenditure, were also evaluated to compare the metabolic and perceptual demands of walking with and without the wearable hip exoskeleton. The study was designed as a proof-of-concept trial to examine whether wearable hip exoskeleton-assisted walking may influence postprandial glucose regulation in healthy adults.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy adults aged 20 to 65 years.
• Participants who were able to complete walking trials with and without the wearable hip exoskeleton.
• Participants who provided written informed consent before participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants with diagnosed metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders.
• Participants with conditions that could affect walking ability or safe use of the wearable hip exoskeleton.
• Participants taking medications known to affect glucose metabolism.
• Participants who were unable to comply with the study procedures.

Deidentified individual participant data underlying the main results of the study may be shared upon reasonable request. The shared data may include postprandial glucose responses, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and relevant demographic and physiological variables after deidentification.

Data may be made available after publication of the main study results and will be available for a reasonable period thereafter.

Data may be shared with qualified researchers who submit a reasonable research proposal to the corresponding author. Access will be granted only after review and approval by the investigators and, where required, appropriate institutional or ethics committee approval. Data will be shared only for scientific purposes and in a deidentified form.