Effects of end-effector robot-assisted gait training on gait ability,muscle strength,and balance in patients with spinal cord injury

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There is no randomized controlled study about the effects of end-effector robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the effects of end-effector RAGT on gait and balance abilities in SCI.

METHODS:

Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to the RAGT (Morning Walk^®, Curexo, Seoul, South Korea) or conventional therapy (CT) group. Patients were assessed using the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), 6-minute walk test (6mWT), lower extremity motor score (LEMS) and proprioception, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury-II (WISCI-II), and mobility category of Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III.

RESULTS:

All clinical outcome measures significantly improved in both groups. The BBS and WISCI-II were significantly improved in the RAGT group compared to the CT group. In the RAGT group, pre-LEMS and pre-WISCI-II of the 10MWT improved group and pre-BBS of the 6mWT improved group were higher than those of the 10MWT non-improved and 6mWT non-improved group, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

End-effector RAGT and CT in patients with incomplete SCI could lead to improvements in gait ability, lower extremity muscle strength, balance, proprioception, and mobility. Additionally, end-effector RAGT could improve balance and gait abilities substantially better than CT.

Keywords

Robotics robot-assisted gait training spinal cord injuries proprioception postural balance

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