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This study presents a first step toward developing a predictive simulation framework that integrates a 3D full-body musculoskeletal model driven by muscle torque generators within an optimal control problem. We calibrated the muscle torque generators model using experimental isometric and isokinetic data from a healthy participant, obtained from a biodex dynamometer equipment. To assess the predictive capability of the framework, we evaluated the effects of walker height and percentage of body weight support on walker-assisted gait patterns by running nine predictive simulations across varying walker configurations. Results showed that effects of walker height were well predicted (e.g., elbow flexion increased with walker height from a mean value of 81.59\u2009deg to 93.86 deg), while effects of weight support were only partially predicted (e.g., upper body joints did not show a clear trend with changes in weight support). Results suggest that developing a detailed hand-walker interaction model would significantly improve the realism of the simulations. This study provides an important step toward optimizing walker-assisted gait through simulation-based design and personalization.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1115\/1.4071579","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,4]],"date-time":"2026-04-04T11:13:37Z","timestamp":1775301217000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1115\/crossmarkpolicy-asme","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Predicting the Effects of Walker Height and Weight Support on Assisted Gait Using Physics-Based Predictive Simulations"],"prefix":"10.1115","volume":"148","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-1274-1406","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Pag\u00e8s Sanchis","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya , Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain; , Passeig Sant Joan de D\u00e9u 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain"},{"name":"Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de D\u00e9u , Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain; , Passeig Sant Joan de D\u00e9u 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain"},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03mb6wj31","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Filippo","family":"Maceratesi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya , Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain; , Passeig Sant Joan de D\u00e9u 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain"},{"name":"Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de D\u00e9u , Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain; , Passeig Sant Joan de D\u00e9u 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain"},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03mb6wj31","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M\u00edriam","family":"Febrer-Nafr\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya , Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain; , Passeig Sant Joan de D\u00e9u 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain"},{"name":"Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de D\u00e9u , Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain; , Passeig Sant Joan de D\u00e9u 2, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona 08950, Spain"},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03mb6wj31","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"Universitat Polit\u00e8cnica de Catalunya"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"33","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]]},"reference":[{"issue":"2","key":"2026042810541380100_bib1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1682\/JRRD.2009.09.0148","article-title":"Rollator Use and Functional Outcome of Geriatric Rehabilitation","volume":"47","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. 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