Walking improvement in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury with exoskeleton robotic training (WISE): a randomized controlled trial
Spinal Cord, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-022-00751-8 · Published: January 29, 2022
Simple Explanation
This study investigates whether using a robotic exoskeleton for gait training can improve walking ability in people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Participants with iSCI were divided into three groups: one receiving exoskeleton training, one receiving standard gait training, and a control group receiving no additional gait training. The study measured changes in walking speed and other walking-related outcomes after 12 weeks of training.
Key Findings
- 1Exoskeleton training can improve clinical ambulatory status in chronic SCI participants with independent stepping ability at baseline.
- 2The proportion of participants with improvement in clinical ambulation category from home to community speed post-intervention was greatest in the Ekso group.
- 3Improvements in raw gait speed were not statistically significant at the group level.
Research Summary
Practical Implications
Rehabilitation Strategy
Exoskeleton training may be a viable option for improving clinical ambulation in individuals with iSCI who have some stepping ability.
Clinical Trial Design
Future studies should carefully consider participant selection criteria to identify individuals most likely to benefit from exoskeleton training.
Therapist Workload
Exoskeleton training may reduce the physical burden on therapists compared to manual gait training, although therapist frustration may be higher.
Study Limitations
- 1The study was underpowered due to financial limitations.
- 2There was no statistically significant difference in baseline features between the three groups.
- 3There may have been a small increase in gait speed in the Passive Control group due to repeated assessment.