Effects of gait training with weight support feedback walker on walker dependence, lower limb muscle activation, and gait ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury: A pilot randomized controlled trial

This study looks at how a special walker that gives feedback on how much weight a person is putting on it can help people with incomplete spinal cord injuries walk better. The researchers wanted to see if this walker could reduce how much people rely on the walker, improve their leg muscle activity, and improve their walking ability. The study involved two groups: one using the feedback walker and another using a regular walker. Both groups also received standard physical therapy. The researchers measured how much each group depended on their walker, how active their leg muscles were, and how well they could walk. The results showed that the group using the feedback walker reduced their reliance on the walker more than the group using the regular walker. The feedback walker group also showed some improvement in leg muscle activity and walking speed.

• 1
  The WSFW group showed a significant decrease in walker dependence compared to the CW group.
• 2
  Some lower extremity muscle activation (left side biceps femoris) was increased in the WSFW group compared with those in the CW group.
• 3
  Velocity of the gait elements were increased in the WSFW group compared with those in the CW group.