Exoskeleton-assisted walking improves pulmonary function and walking parameters among individuals with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) on pulmonary function parameters, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and lower extremity motor score (LEMS) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) compared to conventional training.
Results Summary
The study found that EAW significantly improved forced vital capacity (FVC), predicted FVC%, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) compared to conventional training. Additionally, robotic exoskeleton assistance facilitated walking in SCI individuals.
Population
Individuals with lower thoracic neurological level of spinal cord injury (SCI).
Effective Dosage
16 sessions of 50-60 minutes training (4 days/week, 4 weeks).
Duration
4 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | gait | spinal cord injury (SCI) individuals | - | improved | #1 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | forced vital capacity (FVC) | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #2 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | predicted FVC% | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #3 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #4 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | predicted FEV1% | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #5 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | peak expiratory flow (PEF) | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #6 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | predicted PEF% | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #7 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | 6-min walk test (6MWT) | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #8 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) training | increase | lower extremity motor score (LEMS) | SCI participants | - | significantly increased | #9 |
Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) | increase | pulmonary function (PF) parameters | individuals with lower thoracic neurological level of SCI | - | has potential benefits to facilitate | #10 |
robotic exoskeleton | increase | walking | - | - | helped | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) is expected to improve the gait of spinal cord injury (SCI) individuals. However, few studies reported the changes of pulmonary function (PF) parameters after EAW trainings. Hence, we aimed to explore the effect of EAW on PF parameters, 6-min walk test (6MWT) and lower extremity motor score (LEMS) in individuals with SCI and to compare those with conventional trainings. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study, 18 SCI participants were randomized into the EAW group (n = 9) and conventional group (n = 9) and received 16 sessions of 50-60 min training (4 days/week, 4 weeks). Pulmonary function parameters consisting of the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV RESULTS: Values of FVC (p = 0.041), predicted FVC% (p = 0.012) and FEV CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that EAW has potential benefits to facilitate PF parameters among individuals with lower thoracic neurological level of SCI compared with conventional trainings. Additionally, robotic exoskeleton helped walking. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered on 22 May 2020 at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000033166). http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=53920&htm=4 .