Influence of gait exercise using a walking-assist robot for swing-leg motion in hemiplegic stroke patients: a preliminary study focusing on the immediate effect.

Abstract

We analyzed the effect of gait training using a walking-assist robot that assists a subject's knee joint movement and leg swing to achieve toe clearance of the paralyzed-side lower limb during treadmill walking. The subjects were 10 hemiplegic stroke patients in a rehabilitation ward. The intervention consisted of gait training using the Welwalk WW-1000 (Welwalk) robot for 40 min. Immediately before and after this intervention, a gait analysis of the patients' treadmill walking was performed by a three-dimensional motion capture system. Statistical analyses compared the foot-to-floor distance and the shortening of hip-toe length (SHTL) of the paralyzed side before and after the intervention, and examined the relationship between the change of lower-limb joint kinematics and toe clearance before and after the intervention. The post-intervention SHTL was significantly lower compared to before the intervention, and there was a significant negative correlation between the change in the SHTL and the knee flexion angle from before to after the intervention. Gait exercise using the Welwalk could contribute to the acquisition of more normal leg-swing strategies.