Mobility Outcomes Following Five Training Sessions with a Powered Exoskeleton

This study evaluated how well people with spinal cord injuries could learn to use a powered exoskeleton to walk after just five training sessions. The goal was to see how easy the device is to learn and use. Sixteen participants with varying levels of spinal cord injuries (from C5 to L1) used the Indego exoskeleton for about 7.5 hours of training each. The study measured how fast and how far the participants could walk, and how well they could put on and take off the device, and navigate different surfaces.

• 1
  Participants with lower paraplegia (T9-L1) achieved the highest walking speeds and distances, suggesting potential for community ambulation.
• 2
  Participants with tetraplegia (C5-C7) were able to ambulate with assistance, indicating the exoskeleton's potential for exercise and rehabilitative therapy.
• 3
  All participants were able to walk on both indoor and outdoor surfaces after the training sessions.