Teaching Adult Rats Spinalized as Neonates to Walk Using Trunk Robotic Rehabilitation: Elements of Success, Failure, and Dependence

The Journal of Neuroscience, 2016 · DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2435-14.2016 · Published: August 10, 2016

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study explores the use of robotic rehabilitation to help adult rats with neonatal spinal cord injuries (NTX rats) learn to walk. The robot provides support at the trunk, allowing the rats to gradually increase their weight support and improve their stepping ability. Some rats showed significant improvements and were able to transition from a non-weight-supporting category to a weight-supporting category, but they became dependent on the robot and could not walk without it.

Study Duration

4 weeks of robot training

Participants

18 NTX rats for robot rehabilitation, 7 treadmill-only trained controls, and 38 nonimplanted controls

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Robot therapy significantly improved hindlimb stepping ability, quadrupedal weight support, and other measures in NTX rats.
2
35% of rats initially classified as “poor” weight supporters were able to increase their weight support after robot training.
3
Locomotor recovery included dependence on the robot mechanics, which became essential to their learned strategy.

Research Summary

This study investigated the effect of trunk robotic rehabilitation on locomotor recovery in adult rats spinalized as neonates (NTX rats). The results showed significant functional improvements in hindlimb stepping, weight support, and overall motor performance in the robot-trained rats. However, the recovered function was dependent on the robot, indicating a learned dependence on the robot mechanics.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Trunk-based quadrupedal robot rehabilitation can help rats achieve mechanical states and coordinations they would not achieve alone.

Dependence on devices

Learned dependence on robot mechanics is a hurdle to overcome for many robot locomotor therapies.

Clinical relevance

Understanding trunk roles in voluntary and spinal reflex integration after spinal cord injury and in recovery of function are broadly significant for basic and clinical understanding of motor function.

Study Limitations

1
Learned dependence on the robot mechanics.
2
Did not achieve full autonomy.
3
Poorer kinematics of stepping likely occurred than in ankle-based rehabilitation.

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