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Effects on mobility training and de-adaptations in subjects with Spinal Cord Injury due to a Wearable Robot: a preliminary report.

BMC neurology
January 1, 1970
Patrizio Sale et al. (7 authors)
Clinical TrialJournal ArticleHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy, feasibility, and impact on mobility of a new rehabilitative protocol using the EKSO™ robotic exoskeleton for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and lower limb impairment.

Results Summary

The study found that robot-assisted walking training was feasible and acceptable, with all participants completing the sessions. Improvements were observed in gait spatiotemporal parameters (velocity, cadence, step length, step width) and the 6-minute walking test.

Population

Three cognitively intact voluntary participants with spinal cord injury and gait disorders.

Effective Dosage

45-minute daily robot walking sessions

Duration

20 sessions

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
a training program of robot walking sessions for 45 min daily over 20 sessions
no change
Robot training
Three cognitively intact voluntary participants with SCI and gait disorders
-
were feasible and acceptable
#1
a training program of robot walking sessions for 45 min daily over 20 sessions
increase
gait spatiotemporal indexes (Mean velocity, Cadence, Step length and Step width)
Three cognitively intact voluntary participants with SCI and gait disorders
-
showed improvements
#2
a training program of robot walking sessions for 45 min daily over 20 sessions
increase
6 min Walking Test
Three cognitively intact voluntary participants with SCI and gait disorders
-
showed improvements
#3
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disorder associated not only with ongoing medical complications but also with a significant loss of mobility and participation. The introduction of robotic technologies to recover lower limb function has been greatly employed in the rehabilitative practice. The aim of this preliminary report were to evaluate the efficacy, the feasibility and the changes in the mobility and in the de-adaptations of a new rehabilitative protocol for EKSO™ a robotic exoskeleton device in subjects with SCI disease with an impairment of lower limbs assessed by gait analysis and clinical outcomes. METHOD: This is a pilot single case experimental A-B (pre-post) design study. Three cognitively intact voluntary participants with SCI and gait disorders were admitted. All subjects were submitted to a training program of robot walking sessions for 45 min daily over 20 sessions. The spatiotemporal parameters at the beginning (T0) and at the end of treatment (T1) were recorded. Other clinical assessments (6 min walking test and Timed Up and Go test) were acquired at T0 and T1. RESULTS: Robot training were feasible and acceptable and all participants completed the training sessions. All subjects showed improvements in gait spatiotemporal indexes (Mean velocity, Cadence, Step length and Step width) and in 6 min Walking Test (T0 versus T1). CONCLUSIONS: Robot training is a feasible form of rehabilitation for people with SCI. Further investigation regarding long term effectiveness of robot training in time is necessary. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02065830.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Adaptation, PhysiologicalAdultExercise TestFeasibility StudiesFemaleGait Disorders, NeurologicHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhysical Therapy ModalitiesPilot ProjectsRoboticsSpinal Cord InjuriesYoung Adult
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations42
Citations/Year4.7
Relative Citation Ratio2.84
NIH Percentile83.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.55
Normalized Score0.62
Related Supplements
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