Robot-Assisted Gait Training in a Patient With Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Abstract

Robot-assisted gait training has been investigated for restoring walking through activity-dependent neuroplasticity in persons with various neurologic disorders. This case report presents the outcome of robot-assisted gait training combined with physiotherapy in a 28-year-old man with pure hereditary spastic paraplegia. The patient participated in 25 training sessions over 6 weeks. Improvements were noted in his walking speed and balance after the training, but gait kinematics and kinetics showed no remarkable changes before and after the training. Robot-assisted gait training may be useful for providing intensive gait training in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia because the patient's walking speed and balance improved after the training.