Effects of longitudinal powered exoskeleton training on overground walking for SCI: A case study

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the therapeutic and training effects of longitudinal robotic exoskeleton training (>50 hours) for an individual with chronic SCI on temporal-spatial and kinematic gait outcomes during independent overground walking without the robot. Gait parameters include stride length, stance/swing times, walking speed, temporal symmetry, sagittal joint range of motion and bilateral weight distribution. Longitudinal exoskeleton training resulted in increased bilateral knee ROM, improved phasic distribution of temporal measures and symmetric weight distribution, which translated to increased overall walking speed to the level of community ambulation (~.4m/s).