The effect of impedance-controlled robotic gait training on walking ability and quality in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury: an explorative study

This study explores how robotic gait training, specifically using a robot that adjusts assistance based on the patient's needs, affects walking in people with incomplete spinal cord injuries. Participants trained for eight weeks, and the researchers measured changes in their walking speed, distance, muscle strength, and the quality of their walking movements. The results showed improvements in walking ability and muscle strength, and these improvements were maintained even after the training period ended. People who walked slower at the beginning of the study benefited the most.

• 1
  Participants experienced significant improvements in walking speed, distance, TUG, LEMS and WISCI after eight weeks of training with LOPES.
• 2
  At the eight-week follow-up, participants retained the improvements measured at the end of the training period.
• 3
  Slower walkers benefit the most from the training protocol and achieve the greatest relative improvement in speed and walking distance.