Combining robotic exoskeleton and body weight unweighing technology to promote walking activity in tetraplegia following SCI: A case study

This case study explores whether using a robotic exoskeleton (a wearable robot) along with a body weight support system (which reduces how much weight the person has to carry) can help someone with tetraplegia (paralysis of all four limbs) to walk. A 66-year-old man with a spinal cord injury at the C7 level (complete paralysis) participated in nine sessions of walking with the help of the exoskeleton and body weight support. The results showed that the man was able to tolerate the training and walk short distances with the equipment, suggesting this combination of technologies could potentially help people with tetraplegia to stand and walk, which might improve their physical and mental health.

• 1
  The participant could tolerate the intensity and ambulate with exoskeleton assistance for a short distance with acceptable and appropriate gait kinematics after training.
• 2
  All four measurements increased as a linear function of the training session index. Compared to the first session, the participant reached 8.5 times of walk distance and almost doubled his walk speed by the end of the training.
• 3
  The participant’s perception was that the WRE could help him improve his bone density, circulation, and skin integrity.