Frontiers in Neurorobotics, 2021 · DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2021.723206 · Published: August 26, 2021
This study investigates whether using a robotic exoskeleton (HAL® Robot Suit) can improve the way people with spinal cord injuries walk, not just how well they walk functionally. It looks at changes in the quality and physiology of their gait after training. Fifteen people with spinal cord injuries, both recent and long-term, participated in a 12-week training program using the HAL® Robot Suit on a treadmill. Researchers measured their gait (walking pattern) before and after the training. The study found that in addition to improvements in functional walking tests, participants also showed improvements in the way they walked, including changes in the timing of different parts of the walking cycle and how their joints moved.
The study suggests that exoskeletal training with HAL® can be a valuable tool to enhance both functional and physiological aspects of gait in SCI patients, leading to a more comprehensive rehabilitation approach.
The research emphasizes the importance of assessing gait quality and physiology alongside functional outcomes to provide a more complete picture of rehabilitation progress and to prevent long-term complications due to inadequate gait patterns.
The findings indicate the need for personalized rehabilitation plans that consider individual gait deficits and muscle strength levels to optimize the potential for improvement with exoskeletal training.