Changes in body composition, physical fitness and quality of life on robotic gait assisted training in patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome: a case report

Abstract

PURPOSE: This case report evaluates changes in body composition, physical fitness, and quality of life in a patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) undergoing training with an end-effector gait robotic device. METHODS: A 35-year-old man with GBS completed interval training using a robotic gait assistant three times weekly for four weeks. The training intensity was set at 70-75% (Phase 1) and 80-85% (Phase 2) of the target heart rate, calculated using the heart rate reserve. Evaluations included body composition, physical fitness, isometric strength, gait performance, and quality of life indices. RESULTS: Post-intervention, improvements were observed across all parameters. Body weight increased by 1.2%, while body fat percentage and visceral fat decreased by 5.4% and 3.7%, respectively. Muscle mass increased by 3.3%, and isometric strength improved at all tested sites. Gait speed increased from 0.7 to 1.8 km/h (157.1%), and the number of steps per minute increased from 33 to 77 (133.3%). The timed up-and-go (TUG) test improved by 7.1%, and exercise self-efficacy (ESE) scores increased by 29.1%. CONCLUSION: These findings align with the principles of neuromuscular adaptation, motor learning, and neuroplasticity. Interval training with a robotic gait device may effectively restore physical function and improve quality of life in patients with GBS. However, the limitations of this single case study highlight the need for randomized controlled trials with larger cohorts and long-term effectiveness assessments.