標題: The effects of gait training using powered lower limb exoskeleton robot on individuals with complete spinal cord injury
作者: Wu, Cheng-Hua
Mao, Hui-Fen
Hu, Jwu-Sheng
Wang, Ting-Yun
Tsai, Yi-Jeng
Hsu, Wei-Li
電控工程研究所
Institute of Electrical and Control Engineering
關鍵字: Complete spinal injury;Exoskeleton robot;Gait;Training;Assistive device
公開日期: 5-Mar-2018
摘要: Background: Powered exoskeleton can improve the mobility for people with movement deficits by providing mechanical support and facilitate the gait training. This pilot study evaluated the effect of gait training using a newly developed powered lower limb exoskeleton robot for individuals with complete spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Two participants with a complete SCI were recruited for this clinical study. The powered exoskeleton gait training was 8 weeks, 1 h per session, and 2 sessions per week. The evaluation was performed before and after the training for (1) the time taken by the user to don and doff the powered exoskeleton independently, (2) the level of exertion perceived by participants while using the powered exoskeleton, and (3) the mobility performance included the timed up-and-go test, 10-m walk test, and 6-min walk test with the powered exoskeleton. The safety of the powered exoskeleton was evaluated on the basis of injury reports and the incidence of falls or imbalance while using the device. Results: The results indicated that the participants were donning and doffing the powered lower limb exoskeleton robot independently with a lower level of exertion and walked faster and farther without any injury or fall incidence when using the powered exoskeleton than when using a knee-ankle-foot orthosis. Bone mineral densities was also increased after the gait training. No adverse effects, such as skin abrasions, or discomfort were reported while using the powered exoskeleton. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that individuals with complete SCI used the powered lower limb exoskeleton robot independently without any assistance after 8 weeks of powered exoskeleton gait training.
URI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12984-018-0355-1
http://hdl.handle.net/11536/144645
ISSN: 1743-0003
DOI: 10.1186/s12984-018-0355-1
期刊: JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
Volume: 15
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