Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to reveal the effects of end-effector robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on motor function, proprioception, balance, and gait ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). The secondary aim was to determine the correlation between clinical outcomes. This study was a prospective and multi-center study. A total of 13 incomplete SCI patients who met inclusion criteria received 30 min of RAGT with Morning Walk® (Curexo, Seoul, South Korea), and 1 h of conventional physiotherapy 5 times per week for 4 weeks. Clinical outcome measures were 10 m walk test (10MWT), 6 min walk test (6mWT), lower extremity motor score (LEMS), proprioception, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI)-II. All participants were assessed within 48 h before and after the intervention. All clinical outcomes were statistically improved after RAGT. Subgroup analysis according to the initial proprioception, WISCI-II in the normal group showed a statistically significant improvement compared to the abnormal group. Initial BBS and WISCI-II had a positive correlation with most of the final clinical outcomes. The final BBS had a strong positive correlation with the final 10MWT, 6mWT, and WISCI-II. Initial proprioception had a positive correlation with the final WISCI-II. The final proprioception also had a moderate positive correlation with 6mWT and BBS. This study’s results suggest that the end-effector RAGT could promote proprioception, balance ability and walking ability. Postural control ability and proprioception also had a positive relationship with gait ability.

Highlights

  • IntroductionThe spinal cord plays an important role in connecting the brain and peripheral nerves.It transfers an ascending sensory signal from the periphery to the brain via the ascending tract (spinothalamic tract, posterior column, and medial lemniscus pathway) or descending motor signals from the brain to the periphery via the descending tract (corticospinal tract). 4.0/).If the spinal cord is injured by a traumatic or non-traumatic cause, the patient can have various degrees of motor and/or sensory impairment below the level of injury.For human gait, lower extremity muscle power, joint proprioception, visual balance, and cognition are needed

  • The spinal cord plays an important role in connecting the brain and peripheral nerves.It transfers an ascending sensory signal from the periphery to the brain via the ascending tract or descending motor signals from the brain to the periphery via the descending tract. 4.0/).If the spinal cord is injured by a traumatic or non-traumatic cause, the patient can have various degrees of motor and/or sensory impairment below the level of injury.For human gait, lower extremity muscle power, joint proprioception, visual balance, and cognition are needed

  • After 20 sessions of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT), paraplegia with ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) C improved to AIS D

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Summary

Introduction

The spinal cord plays an important role in connecting the brain and peripheral nerves.It transfers an ascending sensory signal from the periphery to the brain via the ascending tract (spinothalamic tract, posterior column, and medial lemniscus pathway) or descending motor signals from the brain to the periphery via the descending tract (corticospinal tract). 4.0/).If the spinal cord is injured by a traumatic or non-traumatic cause, the patient can have various degrees of motor and/or sensory impairment below the level of injury.For human gait, lower extremity muscle power, joint proprioception, visual balance, and cognition are needed. The spinal cord plays an important role in connecting the brain and peripheral nerves. It transfers an ascending sensory signal from the periphery to the brain via the ascending tract (spinothalamic tract, posterior column, and medial lemniscus pathway) or descending motor signals from the brain to the periphery via the descending tract (corticospinal tract). If the spinal cord is injured by a traumatic or non-traumatic cause, the patient can have various degrees of motor and/or sensory impairment below the level of injury. After spinal cord injury (SCI), patients experience various degrees of proprioceptive impairment. This is essential for locomotor recovery and skill learning after

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