Behav Brain Res, 2021 · DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113415 · Published: August 27, 2021
This study investigated how different types of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) affect the recovery of walking in rats with spinal cord injuries. The researchers compared training with assistive forces, resistive forces, and standard active guidance to see which method best restored unassisted overground locomotion. The training involved using a robotic device to either help or resist the rats' leg movements as they walked on a treadmill. The researchers then assessed how well the rats could walk on their own after the training period. The results showed that while different training forces could induce changes in stepping patterns during training, these changes didn't necessarily translate to improved walking ability after the training was stopped. Simple body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) actually led to better recovery of overground locomotion compared to more complex robotic-assisted methods.
The findings highlight the importance of carefully considering the forces applied during RAGT, as different force fields can induce distinct after-effects on stepping performance.
The study challenges the assumption that matching a pre-set stepping pattern is the optimal training technique following spinal cord injury, suggesting that novel training patterns may be more beneficial.
Future studies should explore combinations of different force applications during RAGT and investigate how changing the training over time can further promote recovery.